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ADULT
SABBATH SCHOOL
LESSONS
JUL AUG SEP 1995
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Adult Sabbath School Lessons (ISSN 8750-1988)/No. 401/July-September 1995.
Editorial Office
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Principal Contributor
Erwin R. Gane
Editor
Erwin R. Gane
Associate Editor
Lyndelle Chiomenti
Editorial Assistant
Sandra Blackmer
Art and Design
Lars Justinen
Pacific Press Coordinator
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Copyright 1995 by the
Department of Church Ministries,
General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists,
12501 Old Columbia Pike,
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, USA.
The preparation of the lessons is under
the general direction of a worldwide
Sabbath School Lesson Committee,
the members of which serve as
consulting editors. The published lesson
quarterly reflects the input of the
committee and thus does not
solely or necessarily represent
the intent of the authors.
6
14
22
30
38
46
56
64
72
80
88
96
104
Witnessing by the Spirit
112
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Empowered by the Spirit
The Holy Spirit's Call to
Fellowship and Service
The Holy Spirit's Ministry
Prior to the Cross
Transformed by the Spirit
Made Holy by the Spirit
Victorious by the Spirit
The Promise of Rain
The Former Rain
The Gifts of the Spirit
How Jesus Enables Us to
Receive the Latter Rain
Sealed by the Spirit
The Latter Rain
Contents
Meet the Principal Contributor
to This Quarter's Lessons
Erwin R. Gane is the editor of the adult Sabbath School lessons.
While Dr. Gane has pastored several churches on two continents, most
of his service has been in the field of education. He taught at Avondale
College in his native Australia and at Union and Pacific Union Colleges
in the United States. He received his M.A., M.Div., and M.Th. degrees
from Andrews University and a Ph.D. degree in Reformation studies.
He has written four books:
Heaven's Open Door
(a study of the seven
seals of Revelation),
The Battle for Freedom
(a study of the book of
Galatians),
This We Believe
(a study of the 27 fundamental beliefs of
Seventh-day Adventists; coauthored by Leo Van Dolson), and
En-
lightened by the Spirit
(the companion book for this series of lessons).
Dr. Gane and his wife, Winsome, have two grown sons.
Check with your local Adventist Book
Center for the companion book to the
Sabbath School
lessons—Enlightened by
the Spirit.
Global Mission is the
cutting edge in taking the
gospel to "every nation,
tribe, language and
people."
Every
member is
being asked
to sacrifice
one day's
wages for this special
offering.
Imagine the difference
your gift
will make
for those
who don't
know
Christ!
f I
10
AVS 10
11
makes it a higher
priority to deal with the needs of the unreached than
the wants of the reached."
Inter-American
Division
Thirteenth Sabbath
Special Projects
Venezuela-Antilles Union
Construction of
a 50-bed hospital
in Venezuela
Construction of
40 new churches
and
finishing churches
under construction.
Introduction
Enlightened by the Spirit
This quarter's Bible study focuses on the Holy Spirit's work in
people's lives throughout history, with special emphasis upon the spir-
itual enlightenment and power He provides God's remnant people in
the end time. Bible prophets foresaw the time when, through an
unprecendented manifestation of the Spirit's power, the good news of
Christ's saving righteousness would be heralded to all the world. The
mighty "latter rain" outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days will
prepare the hearts of believers to meet their Lord and will empower
their endeavors to win others to Christ.
So that we can enter into fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we need to
be informed about who He is. The Bible has little to say about His
nature, but the facts of His personality and place in the Godhead are
fundamental to an understanding of His work.
In every age, the Holy Spirit has called fallen human beings from sin
to holiness, from rejection of God to friendship and fellowship with
Him, from being slaves of natural impulses, selfish desires and ambi-
tions, to purity of mind and humble service for others. The work of the
Holy Spirit before Christ's time was fundamentally what it is today,
with the difference that, because of the cross, the Spirit is now the
personal representative of Christ. He now works with greater intensity
as He bestows special spiritual gifts upon Christian believers.
The "former (or early) rain" and the "latter rain" refer to the out-
pourings of the Spirit at the beginning and end of the gospel age. God
planned the specific time for the former rain to occur, and He knows
exactly when He will bestow the latter rain. But God's timing of these
and other events in salvation history is related to His foreknowledge of
the spiritual condition of the world and the church prior to the occur-
rence of the events. God does not determine salvation history inde-
pendently of His awareness of His people's spiritual preparedness.
Hence, it is true to say that the latter rain will occur only when God's
people are experiencing the fullness of former-rain blessings. To each
believer today, these blessings come in the new-birth experience. As
the new-birth relationship with Christ is maintained, the believer is
progressively molded for reception of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain.
When, through the Spirit's power, we have settled fellowship with
Christ, which empowers victory over sin, the historical event will
occur. Believers do not produce the latter rain; it is God's gift to be
given at a time He has decided for those whom He has foreseen will be
ready for the end-time outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
5
Lesson 1
June 25-July 1
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: John 14:15-26; 1 Cor. 12:11;
Heb. 9:14; Deut. 6:4.
MEMORY TEXT: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him" (Acts 10:38).
KEY THOUGHT: The presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of
the Christian believer is the presence of the Deity.
JESUS WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. When Jesus ap-
proached the Jordan to be baptized, John recognized nobility and
purity. Christ's very presence radiated holiness, compassion, and
divine love. Of course, Jesus was God, as well as man. But this Man,
who had accepted the limitations common to humanity, constantly
opened His life to be filled with the Holy Spirit. After He was
baptized by John, Jesus came forth from the water to be greeted by
the Holy Spirit, descending in the form of a dove, and the voice of the
Father acknowledging Him as His beloved Son (Matt. 3:16, 17).
Without saying who the Holy Spirit is, Luke records that He was
the source of Jesus' spiritual power. Anointed by the Spirit, Jesus
carried on a ministry of teaching and healing (Acts 10:38). It is
impossible to separate the mighty works of Jesus from those of the
Holy Spirit. Whoever He is, we cannot emulate Jesus' life of unself-
ish ministry without the Holy Spirit in our hearts. But who is He?
6
Sunday
June 25
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS INFINITE INTELLECT (John 14:26).
Even though it is impossible for a human being to understand
fully the Holy Spirit's nature, enough is revealed in Scripture for us
to be sure that He is not merely God's influence, but a person.
What do the following passages reveal about the intellectual
ability of the Holy Spirit?
Neh. 9:20
Luke 12:12
John 14:26
1 Cor. 2:11-13
The name "Counselor" (John 14:26, NIV), or "Comforter" (KJV)
translates the Greek word
parakletos
(paraclete). This word is com-
posed of the preposition
para,
meaning "beside" and the adjective
kletos,
meaning "called," or "one called." Hence the literal meaning
of
parakletos
is "one called to the side of." The Latin translators
often rendered it by "advocatus" (advocate). But the words
Advocate
and
Comforter
do not fully describe the Holy Spirit's work. He is the
"Helper," the One who is called to our aid, summoned to our side.
To be able to
teach
all things (John 14:26), our Helper, the Holy
Spirit, must
know
all things. Knowledge and the capacity to impart it
are characteristic of persons.
Many other passages of Scripture speak of the teaching ministry
of the Holy Spirit. For example: Ps. 143:10; Eph. 3:5; 1 John 5:6;
Rev. 2:7.
What pronoun is used in John 16:13 to refer to the Holy
Spirit?
Although the gender of the word translated "Spirit" is neuter, the
Greek masculine personal pronoun is used to refer to Him. Even
though He does not possess gender in the human sense, the Holy
Spirit is not "it," but "He." When we speak about Him or to Him we
must remember that He is a Person, not merely an influence. (See
John 15:26.)
As you approach the study of the Bible, how can you be sure
you are being taught by the Holy Spirit?
7
Monday
June 26
THE HOLY SPIRIT FEELS, WILLS, AND ACTS (1 Cor. 12:11).
Three principal evidences of personality are intellect, will, and
emotion. As we have seen, the Holy Spirit has infinite intellect.
What evidence is there in Scripture that the Holy Spirit ex-
periences deep emotion? Isa. 63:10.
Few passages in the Bible reveal more poignantly the intensity of
God's love for His wayward people than does Isaiah 63:9: "In all
their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved
them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up
and carried them all the days of old" (RSV). Considering their long
years of apostasy, it is amazing to us that, in His unfailing love, God
entered into the sufferings of His people and intervened to save them
from the consequences of their waywardness. "But they rebelled and
grieved his holy spirit." Divine compassion was met by human
ingratitude. God had no choice: "He turned to be their enemy, and
himself fought against them" (verse 10, RSV).
It was the Holy Spirit who was grieved; it was He who became
Israel's "enemy." The Holy Spirit is a person capable of infinite love
and suffering. No human can understand His grief at human way-
wardness.
How can we grieve the Holy Spirit? Eph. 4:25-32.
Consider the sins listed in the passage. Thoughts, feelings, words,
and deeds that are contrary to God's will are bound to grieve the
Holy Spirit. But why should we grieve the One who has "sealed" us
"for the day of redemption"? Such love deserves gratitude, which
creates in us willingness to walk in Christ's way.
In what ways does the Holy Spirit exercise His will? 1 Cor.
12:11; Acts 16:6, 7.
Only a Person with a powerful will is able to "convict the world of
guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8,
NIV). Only the Holy Spirit can choose to bestow spiritual gifts on
believing Christians; only He can direct our witnessing efforts.
"We are carrying the last message of mercy to a perishing
world. . . . We can do this only by the aid of the Holy Spirit.
—Testimonies to Ministers,
p. 313.
8
Tuesday
June 27
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS DIVINE CHARACTERISTICS (Heb.
9:14).
What characteristics and activities of God are ascribed to the
Holy Spirit in the following passages?
Heb. 9:14
Gen 1:2; Job 33:4
Rom. 8:11
Gal. 6:8
The Holy Spirit is God, equal in authority and power with the
Father and Christ. As do the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit
performs a distinctive function in the salvation of the human family.
"The eternal Spirit" (Heb. 9:14) cooperated with the Father and the
Son in the creation of our world (Gen. 1:2). The Holy Spirit inspired
the messages written by Bible prophets (1 Peter 1:10, 11; 2 Peter
1:21). Mary conceived Christ by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18, 20). The
Holy Spirit empowered Christ's ministry (Luke 4:18), was involved
in raising Him from the dead (Rom. 8:11), and worked miracles
through His apostles (Rom. 15:19). The Holy Spirit gives eternal life
to those who accept Christ as Saviour and Lord (Gal. 6:8). Thus the
Holy Spirit shares the omnipotence of the Father and Christ.
What other divine characteristics does the Holy Spirit pos-
sess? 1 Cor. 2:10, 11; John 14:26; Ps. 139:7-12.
Because He shares the thoughts of the Father, the Holy Spirit
knows all things; He is omniscient. The mysteries that "no eye has
seen, nor ear heard" (1 Cor. 2:9, RSV), "God has revealed to us
through the Spirit" (verse 10, RSV). The explanations of divine
mysteries are not all reserved until we reach the heavenly kingdom.
Some of them are available now through the teaching ministry of the
all-knowing Holy Spirit, who shares God's thoughts (verse 11).
Through Him we "understand the gifts bestowed on us by God"
(verse 12, RSV), and we impart His truth to others (verse 13).
Through the Spirit "we have the mind of Christ" (verse 16, RSV).
The all-knowing, all-seeing, all-loving Holy Spirit is everywhere
present (omnipresent). There is no place on earth where we can
escape His convicting ministry (Ps. 139:7-12). And there is no place
from which His supportive, comforting presence can be excluded.
9
Wednesday
June 28
THE HOLY SPIRIT REPRESENTS THE FATHER AND THE
SON (John 14:15-18, 23).
With whom do the following passages identify the Holy Spirit?
2 Sam. 23:2, 3
Ezek. 8:1, 3
2 Peter 1:21; compare with 2 Tim. 3:16
Significantly, the God of the Old Testament (Jehovah or, more
accurately,
Yahweh)
includes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah refers to a voice that cries, "in the wilderness prepare the way
of the LORD
[Yahweh],
make straight in the desert a highway for our
God' " (Isa. 40:3, RSV). Centuries later, Matthew mentioned the
Baptist's preparation for Christ's ministry. "The Lord" and "our
God" in Isaiah refer to the Lord Jesus Christ, for whose ministry John
prepared. (See Matt. 3:1-3.)
Similarly, "the Spirit of the LORD
[Yahweh]" is
"the God of
Israel" (2 Sam. 23:2, 3), and "the Lord God" is the "Spirit" (Ezek.
8:1, 3). The Holy Spirit, as does Christ, embodies "the fulness of the
Godhead" (Col. 2:9).
"The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is
invisible to mortal sight. The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead
manifested. . . . The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He
ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead,
making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and
believe in Christ as a personal
Saviour."—Evangelism,
pp. 614, 615.
How did Jesus demonstrate the relationship between the Fa-
ther, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? John 14:16-18, 23.
The magnificent truth is that when the Spirit comes to live within
us, Jesus and the Father come to us. The infinitely mysterious union
between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit makes it possible for
the supreme God of the universe to live within every believing
Christian.
Are you conscious of the presence of the Father and Christ
in your life because you have the Spirit? How is this conscious-
ness acquired?
10
Thursday
June 29
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD (Deut. 6:4).
Because the Bible presents the Deity as the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, some readers might assume that there are three Gods.
Such teaching is polytheism. By contrast, the Bible teaches
monotheism—three Persons in
one
God. Our limited human insight
renders it impossible for us to understand this divine mystery. Yet
the Bible message is clear: the union between the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit is so infinitely close that there is only one God.
Note the teaching of the following Bible passages:
Dent. 6:4
Ps. 83:18
Isa. 43:10, 11
1 Cor. 8:4
Eph. 4:5, 6
"Nature testifies that One infinite in power, great in goodness,
mercy, and love, created the earth and filled it with life and
gladness."—Testimonies,
vol. 8, p. 256.
There is only one Creator (Mal. 2:10). But to whom does the
Bible credit the work of Creation? Gen. 1:1, 2; John 1:1-3; Job
33:4; Ps. 104:30.
"All things were created by the Son of God."—The
Desire of
Ages,
p. 281.
"Only by the aid of that Spirit who in the beginning 'was brooding
upon the face of the waters'; of that Word by whom 'all things were
made'; of that 'true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into
the world,' can the testimony of science be rightly interpreted. Only
by their guidance can its deepest truths be discerned.
"Only under the direction of the Omniscient One shall we, in the
study of His works, be enabled to think His thoughts after Him."
—Education,
p. 134.
What is the significance of the fact that there is only one God
for the ministries of Christ and the Holy Spirit? Compare John
14:9-11 with verses 18, 23, 26 and 16:13-15.
11
Friday
June 30
FURTHER STUDY: The activities of the Holy Spirit indicate per-
sonality and deity. Study the following: He hears (John 16:13); He
speaks (Matt. 10:20); He convicts (John 16:8); He imparts love
(Rom. 5:5); He imparts special skills (Exod. 31:3); He encourages
(Acts 9:31); He transforms (2 Cor. 3:18); He consecrates for special
ministry (1 Sam. 10:6, 10); He leads (Rom. 8:14).
On the question of the deity of the Holy Spirit, study 2 Cor. 3:18.
The last phrase in the verse translates: "the Lord, the Spirit." Com-
pare Acts 5:3, 4, which identifies the Holy Spirit with God.
"The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness
to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He
must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets
which lie hidden in the mind of God. . . .
"We are to cooperate with the three highest powers in heaven—
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—and these powers will work
through us, making us workers together with
God."—Evangelism,
p.
617.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
A religious worker comes to your door and states his belief
that Christ was brought into existence by the Father and that
the Holy Spirit is God's influence. How would you react?
What Bible passages would you use in an attempt to convince
the visitor of the true Bible teaching on these questions?
2.
You discover that a work associate's objection to Christianity
is her confusion regarding how Christ can live in heaven and
also live in the hearts of believers on earth. How can you help
her?
3.
Why is it important not to make too sharp a distinction be-
tween the saving ministry of Christ and the work of the Holy
Spirit? Even though their roles in the salvation process are
distinct, in what ways are their roles similar or identical?
SUMMARY: The Holy Spirit is a divine person. As God, He is
equal in authority and power with the Father and Christ. Even so,
there is only
one
God. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is
the presence of the Father and the Son. Thus we have the God of the
universe as our constant friend, protector, and guide.
12
Angels in the Andes, part 1
Wellesley Muir
Vicente Diaz never dreamed that his name would be on a hit
list of the Shining Path guerrilla terrorists in Peru. He operated a
small business in a quiet village high in the Andes mountains.
One Saturday night while turning the dial on his shortwave
radio, Vicente found a religious broadcast. As he paused to
listen, the message of Jesus, who died to save sinners, burned
into his heart. For two years his family huddled around the radio
every Saturday night and listened. They sent for Bible-study
lessons and eagerly learned new truths. Eventually they con-
tacted the Lake Titicaca Mission, and requested baptism.
After their baptism Vicente told his family, "We are the only
Christians in this village. God wants us to teach others the
gospel." The family knelt together on the cold dirt floor of their
little home as Vicente prayed. "Dear Jesus, make me Your
messenger. Help me to share Your Word with all of the Quechuas
[Indians] around Santa Rosa."
Life for many Quechuas included chewing coca leaves, which
contain cocaine, and drinking alcohol. During frequent fiestas
drunken men would be led home by a wife or child. Vicente took
his Bible and the lessons he had studied and set out to tell others of
a better way. Through his missionary work, dozens of Quechuas
were transformed and united their lives with Christ in baptism.
Soon Vicente felt impressed to conduct evangelistic meetings
in his hometown. Enemies of the gospel denounced him, and he
was called before the local judge. "You are guilty of bringing false
religion to our city," the judge accused. "You must leave town
within five hours. If you fail to do this, we will put you in prison
and confiscate your house and personal belongings."
Faced with these options, Vicente took his family, his horse,
and all the belongings they could carry and journeyed to a
distant village. They found lodging in the
home of an old friend. There Vicente rented
the city hall in the nearby town and began
preaching. Although the mayor strongly op-
posed him, 45 people accepted Jesus and
were baptized.
Wellesley Muir is the pastor of the Yosemite
Valley Church in California. Previously he
served as president of the Lake Titicaca Mission.
For Current Newsbreak. Call 1-800-648-5824.
13
Lesson 2
July 2-8
Empowered by the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: John 3:5, 36; 16:8-11;
Rom. 7:1-8:10; 1 John 3:3-10; Micah 7:18.
MEMORY TEXT: "And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin,
because they believe not on me" (John 16:8, 9).
KEY THOUGHT: The Holy Spirit convicts of sin because He
wants sinners to believe in Christ. By believing we can have the gifts
of justification, eternal life, Christ's character, and victory over sin.
THE SPIRIT'S CALL FROM SIN, responded to positively,
results in great spiritual victory. One day in 1849 in the little town of
Barnsley, England, a young man walked into his father's library,
selected a tract that caught his eye, and began to read. He was alone
at home, lonely, and discouraged with his efforts to be a Christian.
As the young man read, his mother, who was visiting relatives 70
miles away, rose from the dinner table with an intense longing for the
conversion of her son. She went to her room and remained in prayer
until she felt constrained to praise God for the successful work of the
Holy Spirit in her son's life.
This young man, Hudson Taylor, gave his heart to Christ and
became a missionary to China. He founded the China Inland Mission
and planted the gospel in the hearts of thousands.
Those who respond to the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit
become radiant ambassadors for Christ.
14
Sunday
July 2
THE CONVICTING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (John
16:8-11).
What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit's convicting work?
John 16:8, 9; Acts 2:37-39.
The Greek word translated "reprove" (John 16:8, KJV) means "to
bring to light, expose, convict, correct, punish, discipline." When the
Holy Spirit reveals to our minds the seriousness of our sins, we feel
guilty. The resulting spiritual and emotional hurt is a form of disci-
pline that obliges us either to admit our sin and seek forgiveness or to
ignore it and drive the Holy Spirit from us.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin "because
they do not believe in me" (John 16:9, RSV). God's primary purpose
is not to destroy sinners' peace of mind, but to awaken them to their
need of faith in Jesus. The most appropriate response to the Spirit's
conviction is that of the people who heard Peter's great sermon on
the day of Pentecost. "What shall we do?" followed by genuine
confession and repentance, always results in "the gift of the Holy
Spirit" (Acts 2:38, RSV). Then He empowers, enables, strengthens,
and inspires.
Why does the Holy Spirit carry the responsibility of convict-
ing or convincing "in regard to righteousness" (NIV)? John 16:10
(compare Isa. 11:5; 59:15, 16; John 8:46).
Jesus' answer to the question above was enlightening: "I am going
to the Father, where you can see me no longer" (John 16:10, NIV).
Jesus is righteous, pure, holy, free from sin. While He was on earth,
His followers had a living example of perfect righteousness. They
could see for themselves the beauty and value of righteousness.
When Jesus returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit assumed the task of
convincing sinful humanity of Jesus' righteousness and their need of
receiving it. This is the great message that is to span the earth.
Concerning what event does the Holy Spirit bring conviction?
Why? John 16:11; 1 John 4:13-17.
Jesus warned of the coming judgment (Matt. 5:21, 22; 22:11-14).
The Holy Spirit repeats Christ's warnings, reminding sinners that
only the person in whose heart Christ is dwelling will be acquitted.
15
Monday
July 3
POWER OVER THE DEMANDS OF FALLEN NATURE (Rom.
7:1-8:10).
In Romans 7:1-6, who is represented by the first husband?
Who is represented by the second husband? What is the role of
the law? Compare Rom. 6:8-11; 7:7-14.
Paul is contrasting life lived apart from Christ with life lived in
fellowship with Christ. At any stage of our existence, before or after
initial conversion, it is possible for us to attempt to live apart from
Christ. Then the natural tendencies of our fallen natures take control
of our thoughts, words, and actions, and we are "carnal, sold under
sin" (Rom. 7:14; compare 1 Cor. 9:27; Gal. 5:17, 18).
"The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
is manifest in every man's experience. There is in his nature a bent to
evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist. To withstand this force,
to attain that ideal which in his inmost soul he accepts as alone
worthy, he can find help in but one power. That power is Christ."
—Education,
p. 29.
When we live apart from Christ, how successful are we in the
battle with the inclinations of our fallen natures? Rom. 7:15-24.
How may we have victory over these inclinations? How may this
victory be perpetuated? Rom. 7:25-8:10.
"Nothing good dwells within me" (Rom. 7:18, RSV). "I see in my
members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me
captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members" (verse 23).
"Fear lest your will shall not be held in subjection to Christ's will,
lest your hereditary and cultivated traits of character shall control
your life. . . . Fear to trust to your own strength, fear to withdraw your
hand from the hand of Christ and [to] attempt to walk life's pathway
without His abiding presence."—Christ's
Object Lessons,
p. 161.
Notice: (1) In fellowship with Christ, we are no longer condemned
by the law (Rom. 8:1). We have the
assurance
of present salvation in
Christ. (2) The Spirit of Christ sets us free from control by our fallen
natures (Rom. 8:2-4). (3) By constantly allowing the Spirit to reign in
our hearts, we have "life and peace" (verse 6) and the righteousness
of Christ (verse 10). We live "according to the Spirit" (RSV) by
setting our minds on the things of the Spirit (verses 4-6).
Can you testify to the Spirit's power in overcoming the
demands of your fallen nature?
16
Tuesday
July 4
POWER OVER ACTS OF SIN (1 John 3:3-10).
How can sinful behavior be overcome? Rom. 8:12-14; Gal.
5:16-18; Eph. 4:27-32.
Living "according to the flesh" (Rom. 8:12, RSV) is living apart
from Christ, allowing our fallen natures to control us. "But if
by the
Spirit
you put to death the deeds of the body you will live" (verse 13,
RSV). The deeds of the body are thoughts, words, and actions that
are dictated by our fallen natures. These can be overcome only by the
power of the Holy Spirit. Paul lists the "works of the flesh" (Gal.
5:19-21), evil deeds that we commit when we allow our fallen na-
tures to control. By contrast, the Holy Spirit reigning in our hearts
produces works ("fruit," verse 22, RSV) that are pure and pleasing to
God.
Study passages in 1 John that tell of the importance and the
means of overcoming sin. 1 John 2:1; 3:3-10; 5:2-5, 18.
The Greek of 1 John 2:1 commands that we do not sin at all—that
we do not commit an act of sin (in thought, feeling, word, or act).
How thankful we are that, when we do sin, we have Jesus as our
Advocate.
First John 3:3-10 does not teach that habitual sin is wrong while
occasional sin is acceptable. (See comment no. 1 in "Further Study"
section.) Jesus, our Example, was pure (verse 3); He did not commit
habitual sin, or even one sin (verse 5). "Every one who commits sin
is guilty of lawlessness" (verse 4, RSV), because all sin, whether one
sin or habitual sin, is lawlessness. Any sin is of the devil (verse 8).
Nor does 1 John 3:3-10 teach that it is impossible for a born-again
Christian to choose sin. The passage means that
as long as we
permit the Holy Spirit to reign in our hearts and control our
minds, we are kept from sinning.
"No one born of God commits sin" (verse 9, RSV) simply means
that believers who maintain fellowship with Christ are kept from
sinning by the power of the Holy Spirit. The message is reiterated in
1 John 5:5, 18. The believer in Christ born of the Spirit "does not sin"
("the evil one does not touch [overcome] him," verse 18, RSV)
because his or her born-again fellowship with the Spirit is main-
tained. "He who was born of God [Jesus] keeps him" (1 John 5:18,
RSV).
17
Wednesday
July 5
GOD'S MERCY FOR THE SINNER (Micah 7:18).
If we fall into sin, what assurance do we have that we can be
restored to fellowship with Jesus and His Spirit? Micah 7:18
(compare Acts 5:31; 13:38, 39; Eph. 1:7).
The Lord does not forsake us when we fall; He continues to love
us, to regard us as His children, and He works to give us victory over
our sinful inclinations. "There are those who have known the pardon-
ing love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet
they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they
are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the
Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We
shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of
our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged.
Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not
forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, 'These
things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' 1 John
2:1."—Steps to Christ,
p. 64.
Do these encouraging words mean that we are right with God
if we continue in sin? Isa. 59:2 (compare James 1:14, 15; Rom.
6:23; Ps. 66:18).
The essence of sin is broken fellowship with God. The fact that
God immediately forgives our sin when we ask Him, and restores us
to fellowship with Himself, does not imply that we remain in a saved
relationship with Him if we do not repent. (See comment no. 2 in
"Further Study.")
"One sin unrepented of is enough to close the gates of heaven
against you. It was because man could not be saved with one stain of
sin upon him, that Jesus came to die on Calvary's cross. Your only
hope is to look to Christ and live."—Ellen G. White,
Signs of the
Times,
March 17, 1890.
" 'He that committeth sin is of the devil.' Every transgression
brings the soul into condemnation and provokes the divine displeas-
ure."—Testimonies,
vol. 4, p. 623.
We are not held blameworthy of sins committed ignorantly until
we are aware that we have sinned. (See Lev. 4:27, 28.) Nor is God's
forgiveness dependent on our memory. Repentance is turning to God
in total acceptance of His loving offer of forgiveness.
18
Thursday
July 6
THE HOLY SPIRIT QUALIFIES BELIEVERS FOR ETERNAL
LIFE (John 3:5, 36).
To whom is eternal life given? When is it given? John 3:5, 36;
5:24; 1 John 5:12, 13.
We are mortal beings even after receiving the gift of eternal life. If
time lasts, we will die. Paul explained that "at the last trump . . . this
mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:52, 53), that is, at the
second coming of Jesus. Then, in what sense can it be said that we
have the gift of eternal life now?
The Bible explanation is simple. Death for the believer is a tempo-
rary sleep. The first death is not the end. God gives believers eternal
life now, promising that when "the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God . . . the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thess. 4:16).
They die in possession of the gift of eternal life. While they are
sleeping, their Saviour cherishes His purpose of raising them at His
coming. Then they rise to realize the fullness of Christ's gift, to be
immortal beings for eternity.
What continuing experience ensures that we retain the gift of
eternal life during our earthly sojourn? Rom. 8:9-17.
The gift of the Holy Spirit to our hearts when we accept Jesus as
Lord and Saviour is the gift of His presence, His righteousness, His
life—eternal life. "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life
to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you"
(Rom. 8:11, RSV). This has two meanings:
(1)
The Holy Spirit gives new life now to believers who accept
Him into their hearts.
(2)
The Holy Spirit will give immortal life to believers of all ages
at the second coming of Jesus. Believers are sons and daughters of
God (Rom. 8:14), heirs of the heavenly kingdom (verse 17).
"Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive
Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit
that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the
heart by faith, is the beginning of life eternal."—The
Desire of
Ages,
p. 388.
19
Friday
July 7
FURTHER STUDY: To learn more about the empowering work of
the Holy Spirit, study: John 17:22-26; John 14:15, 16; 1 Peter 1:2;
Rom. 8:2-4.
NOTES FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
Some scholars reason that, because the verbs referring to sin
used in 1 John 3:3-10 are present tense, they refer to habitual sinning.
They explain that the present tense in Greek specifies continuing or
habitual action, not a one-time action. Verse 6 means that no one who
abides in Him sins
habitually,
or as a way of life. Verse 8 means that
the person who commits
habitual
sin is of the devil. Verse 9 means
that no one born of God sins
habitually.
But the Greek present tense does not always refer to continuous or
habitual action. "The aoristic present presents the action as a simple
event or as a present fact without any reference to its progress."
—James A. Brooks and Carlton L. Winbery,
Syntax of New Testa-
ment Greek
(Washington, D.C.: University Press of America, 1979),
p. 81. The authors cite the use of verbs in the present that specify
single events: Acts 16:18, "I command you"; Mark 2:5, "Your sins
are forgiven."
Even a single sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4); the person truly
abiding
in Him does not commit lawlessness (verse 6); any sin is of
the devil (verse 8); and, when God's Spirit controls the hearts and
minds of believers, they have the power not to give in to temptation
(verse 9).
Through the power of Christ's Spirit, they are able to fulfill the
requirements of God's law. (See Rom. 8:3, 4; Phil. 4:13. See Ellen
White's discussion of 1 John 3 in
Sons and Daughters of God,
p. 297.)
2.
If a person commits a sin and dies before confessing, is that
person saved or lost? Ellen White comments: "As long as there is
hope, until they resist the Holy Spirit to their eternal ruin, men are
guarded by heavenly intelligences."—Our
High Calling,
p. 23. "God
bears long with the perversity of men, giving them ample opportunity
for repentance."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
p. 123.
Just as true Christians live in an attitude of prayer, so they may
also live in an attitude of repentance. Their love for Christ causes
them to repent immediately as Peter did when Jesus looked at him
(Luke 22:61). Verbal repentance is important, but Jesus reads the
heart.
SUMMARY: Not only does the Holy Spirit convict of sin, He also
empowers the believer in Christ to overcome. The tendencies of
fallen nature and acts of sin can be overcome through total depend-
ence on Christ in continuing fellowship with Him.
20
Angels in the Andes, part 2
Wellesley Muir
When a judge ordered Vicente Diaz to leave town within five
hours, Vicente and his family took all they could carry and jour-
neyed high into the mountains of Peru. There they stayed with a
friend, while Vicente rented a hall and began preaching his be-
loved message of Christ. Soon 45 new believers were baptized.
The new Christians needed a church. One family gave land;
others bought bricks, stone, wood, metal roofing, doors, and win-
dows. Soon a new church was dedicated with 118 members.
Vicente and Ismael Kala, a new member, worked hard, un-
aware that their Christian activities had put their lives in danger.
The Shining Path guerrillas had singled them and three engineers
out for execution "for creating division among the local people."
The guerrillas attacked the vehicle carrying the engineers, and
held them prisoner while they drove to the church where they
knew Vicente and Ismael would be that evening. They parked the
vehicle nearby and waited to attack. At 7:30 four guerrilla soldiers
slipped into the church through the gate. Suddenly they stopped.
They found 30 armed soldiers walking around the patio; standing
at the church entrance, and sitting in the back of the church.
The guerrillas panicked and raced toward the waiting vehicle,
shouting, "Let's get out of here! They have army soldiers!"
The guerrillas drove to a lonely spot and parked the vehicle.
They killed the engineers, then fled into the night.
Later a woman asked church members, "Where did the soldiers
come from? How long have they been guarding your church?"
Church members responded, puzzled, "No soldiers guard our
church." The woman told the Christians what the guerrillas saw
the evening they came to capture and kill Vicente and Ismael.
"The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
and delivers them" (Ps. 34:7, NKJV), they answered her.
Vicente Diaz is grateful that a radio program brought the gos-
pel message to him and his family, and to thousands like him who
want to learn of Jesus.
In spite of continuing guerrilla activities
in Peru, 3,000 believers were baptized last
July in the Lake Titicaca Mission.
Wellesley Muir is the pastor of the Yosemite
Valley Church in California. Previously he
served as president of the Lake Titicaca
Mission.
For Current Newsbreak. Call 1-800-648-5824.
Lesson 3
July 9-15
The Holy Spirit's Call to
Fellowship and Service
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Luke 10:25-37; Acts 2:38-
47; 20:17-35; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 1:3, 7.
MEMORY TEXT: "We proclaim to you what we have seen
and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And
our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus
Christ" (1 John 1:3, NIV).
KEY THOUGHT: Fellowship with Christ and with other be-
lievers is made possible by fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
THOSE IN NEED ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
The famous English preacher Charles Spurgeon found a boy on the
street who was ragged and hungry. The compassionate pastor gave
him a good meal and some new clothes, and then prayed with him.
Several times in his prayer Mr. Spurgeon referred to God as "Our
Father." The boy asked, "Did you say 'Our Father'?" Spurgeon
replied, "Yes, my boy, yours and mine." "Then we are brothers," the
boy responded. "That's right," Spurgeon said, and he talked to him
about the Lord Jesus Christ. Then he gave the boy a letter to a certain
shoemaker for a new pair of shoes.
A few days later the shoemaker said to Spurgeon, "The other day a
boy came into the shop and asked for a pair of shoes, saying that his
brother had sent him, and when I asked him who his brother was, he
said you were." "That's right," said Spurgeon, "and he is your brother,
too, and if you like, we will share the cost of the shoes."
22
Sunday
July 9
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
(2 Cor.
13:14).
What three divine gifts did Paul wish every believer to enjoy
continually? 2 Cor. 13:14.
The "grace of Christ"
is His unbounded love for us, the means of
saving us from sin (Eph. 2:6-10), and the power He imparts, enabling
us to live for Him (1 Cor. 1:4-8). Fellowship with Christ (1 Cor. 1:9),
made possible by His grace (verse 4), enriches us, so that we "do not
lack any spiritual gift" (verse 7, NIV). He keeps us "strong to the
end," so that we "will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ" (verse 8, NIV).
The "love of God"
(2 Cor. 13:14) is the very basis of our Christian
hope (John 3:16).
"The fellowship of the Holy Spirit"
(2 Cor. 13:14) is the means by
which the Father and Christ commune with our hearts and minds.
The Greek word translated "communion"
(koinonia:
2 Cor. 13:14,
KJV) means "fellowship, association, close relationship, communi-
cation, participation, sharing." The word is used in these different
ways in the New Testament. The beautiful truth is that the Father and
the Son communicate with us through the Holy Spirit. We enjoy
fellowship with the Deity through His divine indwelling in our hearts.
(See John 14:18, 23.)
What does the "communion," "communication," or "fellow-
ship" of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14) do for those who experi-
ence it? Eph. 3:9-21.
As you study the passage, answer the following questions (where
possible, consult a number of translations):
Eph. 3:9: What is the "mystery" that was hidden but is now known?
(Compare Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:9; Col. 1:27.)
Verse 16: How is this mystery made known to us? (Compare verses
7-10.)
Verse 16, 17: When we have faith, how does Christ dwell in our
hearts?
Verses 18-20: What amazing blessings does the indwelling Holy
Spirit impart to us?
Ask yourself: What unclaimed blessings available to me by
fellowship with the Holy Spirit can I claim today?
23
Monday
July 10
FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS (1 John 1:3, 7).
How does fellowship with the Holy Spirit influence our rela-
tionships with others? Phil. 2:1-5.
The Greek word translated "fellowship" in Philippians 2:1 (KJV)
is the same word translated "communion" in 2 Corinthians 13:14
(KJV).
The message of Philippians 2:1-5 is that union with Christ and
fellowship with the Spirit produces dramatic results in our attitudes
toward other believers. We become one in love, in mind, in spirit,
and in purpose (verse 2). The presence of the Holy Spirit in our
hearts draws us to one another in a unity of mutual respect, fellow-
ship, and outreach to others. The Spirit imparts genuine humility
(verse 3). In place of selfish ambition, the desire for position, honor,
and recognition, the Spirit implants in our hearts loving respect for
others. We humbly and joyfully acknowledge that they have talents
that we do not; that, although we have a valuable contribution to
make for the Lord, the gifts of our brothers and sisters are essential
for the church, and, in many cases, may be superior to ours. The
concerns and well-being of our brothers, sisters, and neighbors be-
come more important than our own (verse 4).
The New International Version translates Philippians 2:5, "Your
attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." He left His
exalted position in heaven, became a human being, and subjected
Himself to the humiliation of the cross (verses 5-8). The Spirit seeks
to make us like Jesus.
What two motives should we have as we present the gospel to
others? 1 John 1:3, 7.
The Holy Spirit never motivates us to neglect others. A young
man with long hair and shabby clothes walked into the lobby of a
church, looking very shy but obviously curious to find out more
about Christianity. A woman looked at him disdainfully and re-
marked, "You're not coming in here looking like that, are you?" He
left and never returned. (See James 2:1-7.)
Concern for the happiness of others and willingness to fellowship
with them so that they can have fellowship with God are motivated
by the inspiring presence of the Spirit.
How would prayer for the Spirit's fellowship improve the
fellowship among members of your church?
24
Tuesday
July 11
FELLOWSHIP WITH CHURCH LEADERS (Acts 20:17-35).
The New Testament church, led by apostles, evangelists, and
pastors, was held together in united fellowship by the bonding work
of the Holy Spirit. Divine counsel is offered to both leaders and
church members regarding unity in the Spirit.
Study Paul's practice of church leadership, outlined in Acts
20:17-35. Compare Peter's counsel in 1 Peter 5:1-5.
Observe the following features of Paul's ministry and his instruc-
tion regarding leadership:
Acts 20:19: Despite persecution, he humbly served the Lord.
Verses 20, 27, 31: He taught the people faithfully and did not shrink
from house-to-house visitation.
Verse 21: The message was the gospel of salvation.
Verse 24: His gospel ministry was more important to him than his
own life.
Verse 28: The Holy Spirit appoints leaders.
Verse 32: The church leader is entirely dependent upon God's grace
for holiness and spiritual growth.
Verses 33-35: Paul worked with his own hands to support his minis-
try and to relieve the necessities of others.
"The minister who has a due appreciation of service, regards
himself as God's minuteman. . .. His work is to follow Christ, to be a
willing agent and co-worker with the Master, receiving His Spirit
day by day, and working as the Saviour worked, neither failing nor
being discouraged."—Gospel
Workers,
p. 451.
What will Spirit-filled believers do to support and maintain
enriching fellowship with their leaders?
Rom. 15:30-33
Phil. 2:25, 29, 30
1 Thess. 5:12,13
1 Tim. 5:17-22
The Holy Spirit inspired the churches to support Paul, pray-
ing for his ministry and accepting his fellow workers. One
means of fostering the unity of the Spirit in the church is to
support and encourage faithful servant-leaders.
25
Wednesday
July 12
SERVICE MOTIVATED BY THE SPIRIT (Acts 2:38-47).
What kind of service was performed by the new believers who
received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost? Acts 2:38-47
(compare Acts 4:31-37).
"When the grace of Christ is expressed in the words and works of
the believers, light will shine forth to those who are in darkness; for
while the lips are speaking to the praise of God, the hand will be
stretched out in beneficence for the help of the perishing. We read
that on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon
the disciples, no man said that aught that he possessed was his own.
All they owned was held for the advance of the wonderful reforma-
tion. And thousands were converted in a day. When the same spirit
actuates believers today, and they give back to God of His own with
the same liberality, a wide and far-reaching work will be accom-
plished."—Welfare
Ministry,
p. 271.
The book of Acts could be entitled "The Acts of the Holy
Spirit." Note how the Spirit directed the service of early Chris-
tian believers:
Acts 6:3, 5, 10
Acts 8:29, 39
Acts 9:31
Acts 13:2, 4
Acts 16:6-10
The Holy Spirit directed the apostolic church in the selection of
their leaders and in commissioning them to specific kinds of ministry
and service. Church members, filled with the Spirit, used their dis-
tinctive spiritual gifts by cooperating with the apostles in evange-
listic outreach.
"Preaching is a small
part of the work to be
done
for the
salvation of souls. God's Spirit convicts sinners of the truth,
and He places them in the arms of the church. The ministers
may do their part, but they can never perform the work that
the church should
do."—Christian
Service,
p. 68.
26
Thursday
July 13
EVERY BELIEVER A GOOD SAMARITAN (Luke 10:25-37).
What does being a good Samaritan (Luke 10:36, 37) have to do
with inheriting eternal life?
The lawyer's question concerned the qualification for eternal life.
When Jesus prompted him to answer his own question, the lawyer
quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Jesus responded, "You
have answered right; do this, and you will live" (Luke 10:28, RSV).
In other words, you will have eternal life if you love God and your
neighbor. But loving God and our neighbors involves more than
words and making a profession; it involves works. Are we to assume,
therefore, that our good works have something to do with our salva-
tion?
The Bible teaches that salvation is the gift of the Holy Spirit (Gal.
6:8) to those who have faith (Eph. 2:8-10). But it also teaches that
living
faith always manifests itself in works inspired and directed by
the Holy Spirit. (See James 2:14-26.) Just as good works demonstrate
the living vitality of a person's faith, so the absence of good works
demonstrates that professed faith is barren and dead.
This is why Jesus will ultimately judge as worthy of eternal life
those who render practical service to those in need (Matt. 25:34-39).
Jesus will commend the truly faithful by saying, "As you did it to one
of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (verse 40, RSV).
But He will deny the gift of eternal life to those who only professed
to be Spirit-filled Christians, yet who ignored the tragic sufferings of
their fellow human beings.
Why can John's commands to love fellow believers be applied
to love for all humanity? 1 John 2:9-11; 3:11, 15-18, 23, 24; 4:7-
13 (compare Deut. 10:19; Matt. 22:39).
John links the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers
with their love for others (1 John 3:23, 24), whom he identifies as
"brothers." But, in the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus com-
manded us to love our neighbors also. Our brother, sister, or neighbor
is anyone in need, regardless of color, class, creed, wealth, or educa-
tion.
"In the story of the good Samaritan, Christ illustrates the nature of
true religion. He shows that it consists not in systems, creeds, or rites,
but in the performance of loving deeds, in bringing the greatest good
to others, in genuine goodness."—The
Desire of Ages,
p. 487.
27
Friday
July 14
FURTHER STUDY: Fellowship with the Holy Spirit results in
communicating our faith to others and giving of ourselves and our
means to support God's work. Study Rom. 12:11-13; 2 Cor. 9:13, 14;
Phil. 4:15-20; Philemon 1:6; Heb. 13:16.
"The followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the
world. Through the Holy Spirit, God's word is a light as it becomes a
transforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their
hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the
attributes of God. The light of His glory—His character—is to shine
forth in His followers. Thus they are to glorify God, to lighten the
path to the Bridegroom's home, to the city of God, to the marriage
supper of the
Lamb."—Christ's Object Lessons,
p. 414.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
To what extent is it possible to have fellowship with other
Christians who do not understand the teachings of God's Word
as we do? In such situations, how can we apply the principles
brought forth in this lesson without sacrificing our distinctive
doctrinal convictions?
2.
A person whom you have never met comes to your door at
night, telling you that his four-year-old daughter is suffering
from spinal meningitis. He says that he has been watching her
all day, but that he does not have the money to buy the
medicine she needs. He asks whether you can lend him twenty-
five dollars so that he can go to the store and buy the medicine.
Because of his manner, you have serious doubts about the
truthfulness of his story. What would you do?
3.
A person in your church is critical of church leadership. This
person seems to be knowledgeable as to the attitudes and
actions of the leaders. The criticism is affecting others and
resulting in a degree of disaffection with the church. What can
you do to help restore confidence and fellowship?
SUMMARY: Fellowship with the Father and Christ is possible for
us as we enter into fellowship with the Holy Spirit. This fellowship
with the Deity is the basis of fellowship with other believers, includ-
ing church leaders. It also motivates us to reach out to help those not
of our faith. Fellowship with the Spirit inspires, motivates, and en-
ables unselfish ministry for others.
28
Webs/ Missism
The Sabbathkeeping Sunday Church
Eugene Hsu
In Northeast China an old Sunday church with more than 100
members has met for years.
Two years ago one of the members of this church heard a radio
broadcast of the
Voice of Hope,
and she became interested in the
message she heard concerning the Sabbath. She began searching
her Bible to verify what she heard.
While on a business trip to another city, she had to wait in the
train station for her train. She opened her Bible to read. An
Adventist church elder saw her reading her Bible and was im-
pressed with her boldness. He came near and shared with her his
Adventist beliefs and invited her to attend church services in the
city.
The woman accepted the invitation and was impressed with the
g
church and the truths she heard there. The message was different
from what she had heard in her own church. She continued study-
ing and eventually joined the Adventist church.
She began to witness to her friends, one at a time, about what
she had learned. In less than six months many Sundaykeepers
were converted and began to keep the Sabbath. In less than one
year, the entire Sundaykeeping church had converted to
Sabbathkeeping.
The church growth in that city went from 100 to 600 members
in just one year. The old church was too small to accommodate
the members, so they applied to the government for permission to
build a larger facility. The government did not respond, so mem-
bers built the church themselves. Within six months they had
overcome all obstacles, found suitable property, and built a new
church--the largest Adventist church in Northeastern China, with
a seating capacity of 1,500! Some 2,500 people attended the
church dedication, including believers from other parts of China
who traveled to the city to celebrate the joy-
ful occasion. The climax of the celebration
was the baptism of 500 new believers.
Only in eternity will we know how many
courageous men and women have stepped
forward in faith and trusted in God's power
to overcome insurmountable obstacles!
Eugene Hsu is secretary of the Eastern Asia
Committee at the General Conference.
her Current Newsbreak. Call I -800-648-5824.
9
I
n
i
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Lesson 4
July 16-22
The Holy Spirit's Ministry
Prior to the Cross
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Ps. 104:30; 143:10; Gen.
6:3; Ezek. 36:26, 27; John 16:13-15.
MEMORY VERSE: "I will put my Spirit in you and move you
to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws" (Ezekiel
36:27, NIV).
KEY THOUGHT:
Prior to the cross, the Holy Spirit directed life,
order, and thought in the world; He ruled and directed God's people;
He also brought conviction to, and dwelt within, human hearts. What
is new in His work since the cross?
THE PROBLEM:
Jesus said: "If any one thirst, let him come to
me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out
of his heart shall flow rivers of living water' " (John 7:37, 38, RSV).
John explained: "Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who
believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been
given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (verse 39). The sugges-
tion is that the Spirit would function after Jesus' death and resurrec-
tion in a different way from that in which He functioned before the
cross. The same suggestion is contained in Jesus' statement recorded
in John 16:7, 8. The Spirit would not come until Jesus departed.
The Holy Spirit functioned in a comprehensive manner before the
cross, sustaining the world He had created, convicting sinners, leading
God's people, and dwelling in the hearts of believers. What difference
is there between the Spirit's work before and after the cross?
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Sunday
July 16
THE SPIRIT CREATED AND SUSTAINED (Ps. 104:30).
In addition to participation in the creation of our world, what
work did the Holy Spirit do before the cross that He continues to
do today? Ps. 104:29, 30; Isa. 40:12-17.
The Holy Spirit was the Divine Agent in the creative work of the
Father and the Son. (See Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4.) The organizing, direct-
ing, and controlling work of the Deity is revealed through the opera-
tions of the Spirit. The great usurper, Satan, attempted to assume
control of the world, but the Spirit of God retains His overriding,
overruling sovereignty. He alone "has measured the waters in the
hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed
the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in
scales and the hills in a balance" (Isa. 40:12, RSV). He is the source
of enlightenment, justice, and order among the nations, both prior to
and since the cross.
How pervading was the Spirit's controlling, guiding, protect-
ing presence before the cross? Ps. 139:7-12; Isa. 59:18, 19.
As He is today, the Holy Spirit before the cross was the source of
life, order, movement, and spiritual thought in the world. Every-
where present at any one time, He sustains good (Ps. 143:10) and
restrains and destroys evil (Isa. 40:7). The stories of the Old Testa-
ment illustrate that no human being can escape the restraining power
of the Holy Spirit. When Saul sent messengers to apprehend David,
the Spirit of God came upon the messengers, preventing them from
fulfilling their evil purpose (1 Sam. 19:18-21). When Saul himself
attempted to arrest David, the Spirit of God came upon him also, and
he was thwarted (verse 23).
"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord
shall lift up a standard against him" (Isa. 59:19).
"It is through the agency of the Holy Spirit that God communi-
cates with man; and those who deliberately reject this agency as
satanic, have cut off the channel of communication between the soul
and
Heaven."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
p. 405.
In what ways can you identify the Holy Spirit's control over
humanity today? What experiences have you had of His direct-
ing presence?
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Monday
July 17
THE SPIRIT CONVICTED SINNERS (Gen. 6:3).
What do the following Old Testament passages teach regard-
ing the work of the Holy Spirit? Review the stories that form the
background to these passages:
Gen. 6:3
Num. 24:2
Ps. 51:11
Genesis 6:3 may be translated: "My Spirit will not contend with
man forever" (NIV). The Lord was so repulsed by almost universal
human wickedness that He regretted having created humanity (verse
6). "Every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil
continually" (verse 5, NRSV). Because the conviction of the Holy
Spirit was continually rejected, God decided to bring His efforts to
an end (verse 7). "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord"
(verse 8, NIV). So the Lord gave the world 120 more years to hear
the convicting message of His Spirit.
Balaam's repeated efforts to curse Israel failed because "the Spirit
of God came upon him" (Num. 24:1, 2). Balaam had rejected the
convicting Holy Spirit, and his days ended in tragedy (Num. 31:8).
After his sin of adultery, David, under deep conviction, prayed that
the Holy Spirit would not be taken from him (Ps. 51:11).
The Holy Spirit was as active in convicting and drawing sinful
humanity in Old Testament times as He is today. No human being
can complain that the Spirit did not work sufficiently to save him or
her. (See Rom. 2:11-16.)
What were the results of Israel's closing their ears to the
appeals of the Holy Spirit? Isa. 30:1; 63:10.
"The warnings given in the word of God to the children of Israel
were meant, not merely for them, but for all who should live upon the
earth. . . . [Isa. 30:1, 2 quoted.] If the Lord reproved His people
anciently because they neglected to seek counsel of Him when in
difficulty, will He not be displeased today if His people, instead of
depending on the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to lighten
their way, turn from Him in their test and trial for the aid of human
beings who are as erring and inefficient as
themselves?"—Testimo-
nies to Ministers,
pp. 380, 381.
32
Tuesday
July 18
THE SPIRIT ENRICHED GOD'S PEOPLE (Ps. 143:10).
In what special ways did the Lord instruct His people in Old
Testament times?
2 Sam. 23:2
Neh. 9:30
Ezek. 2:2,3
Zech. 7:12
The convicting Spirit of God spoke directly to every human heart.
"Heaven's plan of salvation is broad enough to embrace the whole
world. God longs to breathe into prostrate humanity the breath of
life."—Prophets and Kings,
p. 377. But no people in ancient times
were as blessed with spiritual, moral, and ethical truth as were the
Israelites. They alone were given Heaven's revelations through the
prophets. The Holy Spirit inspired the Old Testament Scriptures as
He later inspired the New Testament Scriptures. "Men moved by the
Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:21, RSV; compare 2 Cor.
12:1-7). Repeatedly God spoke to His chosen people, not because He
wanted them to have light and truth unavailable to other nations, but
because He planned for them to be His witnesses.
Consider other ways in which the Holy Spirit enriched God's
people before the cross:
Isa. 63:11-14
Exod. 31:1-4
Nmn. 11:24,25
Zech. 4:6-10
The psalmist prayed: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my
God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground" (Ps. 143:10,
NIV). God's Spirit constantly sought to do exactly that! He worked
through Moses, through craftsmen, Israel's elders, prophets, kings,
and governors.
How does the Holy Spirit work to enrich God's people to-
day? How does the Spirit enrich your life?
33
Wednesday
July 19
THE SPIRIT DWELT IN THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS (Ezek.
36:26, 27).
Identify the people in the following passages, and indicate how
they were affected by the Spirit's presence in their hearts.
Gen. 41:38
Ezek. 3:24; 11:5
Dan. 4:8, 9,18; 5:14
Micah 3:8
It was not only select people who were favored with the presence
of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. The point is that His presence was
and is the source of holiness, integrity, wisdom, and spiritual power
for those who emulate the commitment of the spiritual giants of Old
Testament times.
God repeatedly promised His people that, if they would turn
to Him with all their hearts, His Spirit would be poured out upon
them. Review some of these beautiful promises. Isa. 32:14-17
(compare 31:6); 44:3; 59:21 (compare Ezek. 36:26, 27; 37:14).
These promises, and others like them, were not only for Israel;
they are also for us. If Israel would fulfill their covenant promises,
God would pour out His Spirit upon them, dwell in their hearts, give
them individual and national prosperity, and use them to proclaim
His saving love to other nations. To some extent the promises could
be fulfilled, but not entirely, because of Israel's failure to respond to
God's love by obedience to His will. Ultimately these promises
applied to spiritual Israel, and at Pentecost they began to be fulfilled
for the Christian church.
What greater evidence of God's loving intention for His people
could there be than the promise of Isaiah 32:15-20? Isaiah warned of
invasion, desolation, and captivity. Yet there was still hope—hope of
the outpouring of the Spirit and the consequent reign of righteous-
ness in the people's hearts.
Specifically, how would you apply the promises of Isaiah
and Ezekiel to God's people today?
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Thursday
July 20
THE SOLUTION (John 16:13-15).
This lesson began with the problem question: What is the differ-
ence between the Spirit's work before and after the cross? We have
discovered that most major elements of the Spirit's work in the New
Testament are also described in the Old Testament. Why, then, did
John say, "Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus
had not yet been glorified"? (John 7:39, NIV).
What answer to the above question is suggested by Jesus'
predictions concerning the work of the coming Holy Spirit? John
15:26; 16:13-15.
The Spirit could not be Christ's personal representative before
Christ came to our world. The Spirit can now fulfill that role, repeat-
ing Christ's teaching by explaining to prayerful believers what Christ
wants them to understand. The Spirit explains to us not only the
meaning of Christ's teaching but also the enormous significance of
His atoning sacrifice. The earthly life of Christ and His death on the
cross have added dramatically to the teaching ministry of the Holy
Spirit.
What indications are there that, since Christ has died, the
Spirit can now give believers a greater degree of spiritual and
witnessing power? Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:8.
"During the patriarchal age the influence of the Holy Spirit had
often been revealed in a marked manner, but never in its fullness.
Now, in obedience to the word of the Saviour, the disciples offered
their supplications for this gift, and in heaven Christ added His
intercession. He claimed the gift of the Spirit, that He might pour it
upon His people."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
p. 37.
"It is not that His work is more real in the new dispensation than in
the old. It is not merely that it is more universal. It is that it is directed
to a different end—that it is no longer for the mere preserving of the
seed unto the day of planting, but for the perfecting of the fruitage
and the gathering of the harvest. . . . In one word, that was a day in
which the Spirit restrained His power. Now the great day of the Spirit
is come."—Benjamin B. Warfield,
Biblical and Theological Studies
(Philadelphia, Penn.: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Com-
pany, 1952), pp. 155, 156.
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Friday
July 21
FURTHER STUDY: Study the special work of the Holy Spirit as
described in the book of Judges: Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24, 25;
14:6, 19; 15:14.
"There is not an impulse of our nature, not a faculty of the mind or
an inclination of the heart, but needs to be, moment by moment,
under the control of the Spirit of God. There is not a blessing which
God bestows upon man, nor a trial which He permits to befall him,
but Satan both can and will seize upon it to tempt, to harass and
destroy the soul, if we give him the least advantage. Therefore
however great one's spiritual light, however much he may enjoy of
the divine favor and blessing, he should ever walk humbly before the
Lord, pleading in faith that God will direct every thought and control
every
impulse."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
p. 421.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
Some theologians and philosophers have argued that the God
of the Old Testament is not the same Person as the God of the
New Testament. They think that the merciful principles of the
Sermon on the Mount are not reflected in the severe judg-
ments upon sinners in the Old Testament. How does this
week's lesson help to answer that criticism?
2.
Some Bible students think that between Sinai and the cross
salvation was by law keeping, not by God's grace as taught in
the New Testament. How does our study of the Holy Spirit's
work throughout the entire Old Testament period contradict
that theory?
3.
In what ways can you use the record of the Holy Spirit's work
before the cross to witness to those who do not believe in
God?
SUMMARY: The work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament era
is repeated in the New Testament era. In addition, since the cross, the
Spirit is Christ's special representative, presenting His teaching,
drawing sinners to accept His infinite sacrifice for them, and explain-
ing its enormous significance. Because of Christ's death and resur-
rection, the penalty for all human sin has been paid. Now the Spirit is
poured out in even greater measure upon God's people than was
possible before the cross.
36
Sham.
AMU=
The Chain That Is Not Broken
Joaquina Gomez Huerta
Gloria Soria left her native town in Spain for Madrid in search
of better opportunities for her life. A devout Catholic, Gloria rose
early every morning to spend time with the Lord before begin-
ning her daily tasks.
Rosa Ramos, Gloria's neighbor, noticed her devotion and spoke
to her about the second coming of Jesus. Gloria was impressed
and wanted to know more, so Rosa enrolled her in Bible studies.
Gloria then began to share what she learned with others, begin-
ning with her two children and some friends. Eventually several
people joined the family of the Lord and became links in the
chain that never ends.
Gloria moved to another part of Madrid and there continued to
share her faith with others. Mary Lazaro listened to what Gloria
had to say. Mary's husband had left her and their four children for
another woman. Through Mary's difficulties, Gloria encouraged
her and told her about Christ.
Gloria invited me to study the Bible with Mary and her. Each
week before we began our Bible study we shared the victories
and answered prayers in Mary's life. Her oldest son suffered
from asthma, and now he is well. Her youngest son's nervous
disorder has improved. And her second son, who had gone with
his father, is now with her, and they were renewing their mother-
son relationship. There was another problem: Mary smoked and
confessed that she could not leave it, although she knew she
needed to. One night after our Bible Study we prayed especially
that the Lord would give Mary the strength to quit smoking. The
next week when we met, Mary told me that after my prayer she
felt God's strength and had quit smoking.
We continued our Bible studies, and in time Mary and three of
her children were baptized. Today they are active members in
their church, and have become links in the chain that never ends.
Mary Lazaro's friend Maria came to the Bible-study group,
and the Lord poured out blessings and answered prayers. Maria's
faith in God is strong, and one day soon she too will become a
link in the chain that never ends. Gloria and Mary continue to
share their faith as the chain of faith continues to grow.
Joaquina Gomez Huerta is a credentialed missionary for the
Spanish Union of Churches in the Euro-Africa Division.
For Current Newsbreak. Call 1-800-648-5824.
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Lesson 5
July 23-29
Transformed by the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: John 3:1-21, 34-36; Titus
3:5-7; Rom. 8:9, 10; Col. 2:6; 1 John 5:2-5.
MEMORY TEXT: "Jesus answered him, 'Very truly, I tell
you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born
from above' " (John 3:3, NRSV).
KEY THOUGHT. The drawing, convicting, transforming work
of the Holy Spirit that produces the new-birth experience in the heart
of the responding sinner is essential to salvation.
JESUS TAUGHT NICODEMUS HOW TO BE SAVED. All
the elements in the salvation process are stated, alluded to, or illus-
trated in John 3. "In the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus unfolded
the plan of salvation and His mission to the world."—The
Desire of
Ages,
p. 176.
As a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus was
hesitant to approach Jesus openly. To protect himself from possible
criticism, he came to Jesus "by night" (John 3:2). He had been
convicted that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but he had doubts
and questions that could be resolved only by direct contact.
In his opening remarks, Nicodemus acknowledged that Jesus was
an honored teacher sent from God, but stopped short of recognizing
His messiahship. Ignoring the comment, Jesus immediately addressed
Nicodemus' deep spiritual need. Only as His life was cleansed and
transformed by the Holy Spirit could he have eternal life.
38
Sunday
July 23
THE NEW BIRTH IS TRANSFORMATION OF LIFE (John 3:1-
12).
Put yourself in Nicodemus' position. After listening to Christ's
words, what conclusion would you draw as to the means by
which you can be saved? John 3:1-7.
Jesus employed a metaphor to illustrate the manner in which God
saves us. We cannot "see the kingdom of God without being born
from above" (John 3:3, NRSV). The Greek word translated "from
above" also means "again" (KJV) or "anew" (RSV). Rebirth from
above is not an option; it is essential to salvation. "You
must
be born
from above" (verse 7, NRSV). But how? Nicodemus was familiar
with such Old Testament passages as Isaiah 64:6; Psalm 51:10;
Ezekiel 36:26, 27. But, shocked at Christ's forthrightness, Nicodemus
drew attention to the impossibility of a second physical birth (verse
4).
The rebirth of which Jesus spoke was spiritual—"of water and the
Spirit" (verse 5, RSV). Water symbolizes spiritual cleansing "by the
word" (Eph. 5:26), of which baptism and the Lord's Supper remind
us (John 13:8; Heb. 10:22). The Holy Spirit cleanses us spiritually
when we respond to the Word (1 Cor. 6:11); in the same divine act
He makes us right with God and transforms our hearts.
How did Jesus illustrate the transforming work of the Holy
Spirit in our hearts? John 3:8 (compare Ezek. 37:12-14; Isa.
44:3, 4).
Christ's saving work
for us
includes His transforming work
in us.
There is nothing of self in the new-birth experience; it is entirely the
work of the Holy Spirit.
"While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen
and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in
every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of
God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful
thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and
peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of
sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one
sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from
the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surren-
ders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see
creates a new being in the image of God."—The
Desire of Ages,
p. 173. (See 1 Peter 1:22, 23.)
39
Monday
July 24
PAUL REPEATED JESUS' TEACHING ON SALVATION
(Titus 3:5-7).
How did Jesus illustrate for Nicodemus the major events in
the salvation process? John 3:14-21.
The new birth is made possible by the cross, illustrated by the
serpent that Moses set on a pole so that Israelites who had been bitten
by venomous snakes could look and live (Num. 21:8, 9). The serpent
symbolized sin, and when Jesus died He "bore our sins in his body on
the tree" (1 Peter 2:24, RSV). As the people looked to the uplifted
serpent, their faith laid hold of God, and they were healed. As by
faith we look to the cross, we are spiritually healed. Our sins, sym-
bolized by the raised serpent, are forgiven; we are made right with
God, and our hearts are transformed. This whole process of cleans-
ing, reconciliation with God, and transformation is incorporated in
Jesus' metaphor of salvation—the new birth (regeneration).
We believe and receive eternal life (John 3:15, 16, 36). We are
free from condemnation because of past sin (John 3:17, 18; Rom.
8:1). We look to the cross, and Christ's life of holiness is counted for
us as His Spirit takes possession of our hearts. As new life was
imputed to the Israelites who looked to the brazen serpent, so Christ's
righteous life is imputed to us as we look to Him.
With what other metaphor of salvation did Paul identify the
new birth? Titus 3:5-7; Gal. 2:16; 3:1-9, 14.
The
Lord "saved us" by the washing of "rebirth" (Titus 3:5, NIV),
or "regeneration" (KJV). The Greek word means "rebirth." He saved
us by pouring out the Holy Spirit upon us in the new-birth experience
(verse 6). He saved us by the Spirit, "so that, having been justified by
His grace, we might be heirs according to the hope of eternal life"
(verse 7, literally). The saving is by the transforming work of the
Spirit (verses 5 and 6), and this experience Paul says is justification
(verse 7).
The Galatians began their Christian walk with justification by
faith (Gal. 2:16). They began "with the Spirit" (Gal. 3:3). The bless-
ing of Abraham, to whom righteousness was "reckoned" (RSV; "ac-
counted," KJV; "credited," NIV; "imputed," verse 6), can be ours as
we "receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (verse 14). Jesus
illustrated salvation by new birth. Paul used a different metaphor,
justification, to explain the same event.
40
Tuesday
July 25
THE NEW BIRTH IS THE GIFT OF CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUS-
NESS (Rom. 8:9, 10).
What character qualification must those have who are given
eternal life? Matt. 25:46. How do we receive this character quali-
fication? Rom. 8:1-4, 9, 10.
Born-again Christian believers are free from condemnation (Rom.
8:1; compare John 3:18). The Holy Spirit has set them free from sin
and death (Rom. 8:2). God did what the law could not do; He
provided the means of salvation through the death of His Son, "in
order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in
us, who do not live according to the sinful nature
but according to the
Spirit"
(Rom. 8:4, NIV).
Jesus expressed the same truth: "Whoever lives by the truth [the
person who has experienced the new birth] comes into the light, so
that it may be seen plainly that what he has done
has been done
through God"
(John 3:21, NIV).
The "righteous requirements of the law" (Rom. 8:4, NIV) are
fulfilled in our lives because the Holy Spirit reigns there. "You,
however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if
the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit
of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your
body is dead because of sin,
yet your spirit is alive because of
righteousness"
(Rom. 8:9, 10, NIV). Righteousness within (bestowed
by the presence of the Holy Spirit) produces righteousness with-
out—conformity to the "righteous requirements of the law."
Does this mean that born-again believers are righteous?
1 John 2:29; 3:7.
First John 2:29 translates literally: "If you know that He is right-
eous, you know that everyone who does righteousness has been born
of him." The born-again believer "does righteousness." He or she
does works that in God's sight are righteous, when he or she has been
born of the Holy Spirit.
Then are you righteous? "Little children, let no one deceive you;
he who does righteousness [the born-again believer, 1 John 2:29]
is
righteous, as He is righteous"
(literally). Believers are
never
right-
eous independent of Christ, but because (1) Christ's righteousness is
counted for them (Romans 4), and (2) Christ is living out His life
through them by the Holy Spirit. (See Gal. 2:20.)
41
Wednesday
July 26
THE NEW BIRTH GIVES SPIRITUAL VICTORY (1 John
5:2-5).
We have discovered that righteousness in the heart by the pres-
ence of the Holy Spirit results in righteous works.
What did John teach about the means by which we have
victory over sin? 1 John 5:2-5.
Because the Lord makes available enormous power through the
work of the Holy Spirit, He expects us to receive this power by faith
so that we can overcome. The promises to the churches given through
John are available for those who overcome. "To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the tree of life" (Rev. 2:7). "He that overcometh
shall not be hurt of the second death" (verse 11). "To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Rev.
3:21).
How can we overcome as Jesus did? John answers that it is by
maintaining a born-again, Spirit-filled fellowship with Christ. "For
whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory
that overcomes the world, our faith" (1 John 5:4, RSV). Overcoming
the world, in the context of this passage, means obeying God's
commandments. This is not "burdensome" (verse 3, RSV) for born-
again believers, because they are constantly drawing upon the infi-
nite power of the Holy Spirit.
How is the evil one frustrated in his attempt to lure us into
sin? 1 John 5:18.
"In the new birth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it
is brought into accord with His law. When this mighty change has
taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto life, from sin
unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to obedience and
loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has ended; the new life of
reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. Then 'the righteousness
of the law' will 'be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit.' Romans 8:4. And the language of the soul will be:
`0 how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.' Psalm
119:97."—The
Great Controversy,
p. 468.
If you have not had this experience, are you ready to reach
out for it by faith?
42
Thursday
July 27
THE NEW BIRTH IS A DAILY EXPERIENCE (Col. 2:6).
Why is it essential to experience a daily renewal of fellowship
with the Holy Spirit? Col. 2:6; Gal. 5:16, 25.
As it was for the ancient Galatians, our Christian walk is "begun
with the Spirit" (Gal. 3:3, RSV). When we followed the promptings
of the Holy Spirit, turned away from sin, and entered into heart-to-
heart fellowship with the Spirit, we were born again. Now we grow
spiritually more like Jesus by daily renewing our fellowship with
Him. Within married life, daily communion between husband and
wife is essential to a healthy, happy relationship. So, in our walk with
Christ, as we commune with Him every day and invite Him to dwell
in our hearts by His Spirit—overshadowing, directing, and motivat-
ing our endeavors—we enjoy continual peace of mind and constant
spiritual growth.
"To follow Jesus requires wholehearted conversion at the start,
and a repetition of this conversion every day."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary, vol.
1,
p. 1113.
"None are living Christians unless they have a daily experience in
the things of God and daily practice self-denial, cheerfully bearing
the cross and following Christ. Every living Christian will advance
daily in the divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experi-
ences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not
completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full
preparation for the finishing touch of
immortality."—Testimonies,
vol. 2, p. 505.
What assurance do we have that, though we are weak, the
Lord will sustain us? 2 Cor. 4:16; Isa. 40:31.
The promise is that we can have daily spiritual renewal. But there
is a condition.
"They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength"
(Isa. 40:31, RSV). This means taking time to commune with the Lord
through prayer and allowing Him to speak with us through His Word.
There is no substitute for daily devotions during which our waning
spiritual forces are revitalized as the Spirit comes into our hearts with
renewed energy.
"In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we
need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to
be a partaker of the divine
nature."—Selected Messages,
book
1, p. 374.
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Friday
July 28
FURTHER STUDY: Concerning the gift of Christ's righteousness
as the means of victory over sin, study Romans 9:30-10:10.
Martin Luther saw the enormous significance of John 3 in relation
to Paul's message of justification. In the introduction to his sermons
on John 3, Luther wrote: "This chapter stresses above all else that
sublime topic: faith in Christ, which alone justifies us before God."
—Luther's Works
(St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia Publishing House,
1957), vol. 22, p. 275.
Luther recognized the work of the Holy Spirit in justification. He
wrote of "the Holy Spirit who justifies."—Luther's
Works,
vol. 26,
p. 208.
Ellen White, who endorsed Luther's understanding of justification
(The Great Controversy,
p. 253), also emphasized the relationship
between justification and the new birth: "As the sinner, drawn by the
power of Christ, approaches the uplifted cross, and prostrates himself
before it, there is a new creation. A new heart is given him. He
becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. Holiness finds that it has
nothing more to require. God Himself is the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus. Rom.
3:26."—Christ's Object Lessons,
p. 163.
Because of the emphasis in the Bible and the writings of Ellen G.
White, the recognition of the relationship between the new birth and
justification has been common in Seventh-day Adventist literature.
For example, I. H. Evans, for years a successful evangelist and
administrator, wrote: "Justification is an act of God in behalf of the
repentant sinner, freeing him from his sins because of his faith in
Christ, without works or other merit on his part. It includes forgive-
ness for all past sins; regeneration, or the new birth; and in addition
to these it imputes the righteousness of Christ."—This
Is the Way
(Takoma Park, Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald, 1939), p. 65.
DISCUSSION QUESTION: A friend in your church claims to be a
born-again Christian, but he is harsh and domineering in the way he
treats his wife and family. What could you do to help him see his
inconsistency?
SUMMARY: The new-birth experience involves transformation of
heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. When sinners respond to the
conviction of the Spirit by accepting Christ as Saviour and Lord,
their past sins are forgiven, and the righteousness of Christ is both
counted for them and bestowed upon them by the gift of the Spirit.
44
Maid Minsk=
The Outboard That Ran on 'Faith'
Gerald F. Clifford
Lepsy Koia stared, amazed, at the outboard motor pushing
his small canoe across the three-mile-wide river. The fuel lines
hung loose, disconnected from the motor, yet the motor ran
smoothly as he crossed the expanse of river.
Lepsy, a senior theology student at Pacific Adventist College
in Papua New Guinea, was visiting remote villages in Southwest
Papua New Guinea as part of his ministerial training.
With his small ministerial allowance Lepsy bought Bibles,
Picture Rolls, and Bible-study cards. Little money was left for
fuel, which costs the equivalent of US$18.00 per gallon--if one
can buy it. No wonder Lepsy was concerned that he might not
make it to his destination. But now he watched as God stepped
into his problem.
When Lepsy told the owner of the canoe and motor about the
miracle, he was so impressed by the manifestation of God's
concern for Lepsy, that he has joined the baptismal class.
While preparing to spend his vacation months ministering to
these isolated people, Lepsy learned that most of the inhabitants
of one village had been Adventists, but they had slipped back to
their former ways. He felt he must visit these people before he
visited the remaining 'heathen' villages. He prayed that God
would show him how many former Adventists lived in this
village. The next morning he found 56 pigs lined up in front of
the little house where he slept. Lepsy visited this village and 30
more during his vacation.
Lepsy returned to school with a desire to visit the remaining
villages in that area. The harvest is ripe and ready to be picked
now. All that it requires is the workmen to move in to reap.
While the South Pacific Division does not have groups of one
million or more that have not yet heard of Christ, thousands of
villages, islands, and cultural groups have not been touched with
the gospel. In the Vanatu Mission alone 1,800 villages need to
be reached with the gospel. In another mission in the Solomon
Islands the president lists 1,000 `unentered' villages.
The harvest is ready and waiting for people like Lepsy Koia,
who have a vision for mission.
Gerald F. Clifford is the administrative assistant to the president
and Global Mission coordinator for South Pacific Division.
For Current Newsbreak, Call 14M-648-5824.
45
Lesson 6
July 30-August 5
Made Holy by the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Rom. 6:19-22; 1 Cor. 2:12-
16; 6:11; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Peter 1:1, 2.
MEMORY TEXT: "God hath from the beginning chosen you
to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of
the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
KEY THOUGHT: The Holy Spirit bestows upon the believer
present holiness and empowers growth in holiness. The gift of holi-
ness is the means by which our thoughts, feelings, words, and deeds
are rendered acceptable in God's sight.
HOW CAN WE CONTROL OUR THOUGHTS? Good or evil
actions begin with good or evil thoughts (Prov. 23:7). We are all
aware that the hardest battle in life is the struggle to think straight.
People who want to give up smoking have great difficulty keeping
their thoughts off cigarettes. Alcoholics think constantly about drink,
and lustful persons keep thinking about sex. Proud people focus on
themselves, and dishonest people manufacture crooked schemes.
Most people will admit that there are some modes of thought that,
of themselves, they cannot overcome, even though they recognize
them as counterproductive. Mind training has some value, the exer-
cise of the will achieves results, but the problem persists: the mind is
not completely controllable in respect to some "attractive" objects.
Is there a solution to this dilemma? Can our thoughts ever be
brought under control? How can the Holy Spirit help us?
46
Sunday
July 30
THE HOLY SPIRIT JUSTIFIES AND SANCTIFIES (Rom. 6:19-
22).
We discovered in the previous lesson that when we receive the
Holy Spirit in the new-birth experience, He bestows the righteous-
ness of Christ upon us.
What is the relationship between righteousness and sanctifica-
tion (holiness)? Rom. 6:19-22.
The Greek word used in verses 19 and 22 translated "holiness"
(KJV) and "sanctification" (RSV) is
hagiasmos.
It occurs ten times
in the Greek New Testmant. The KJV translates five of its instances
"sanctification" and the other five instances "holiness."
Born-again Christians, who daily are enjoying a renewal of their
fellowship with the Holy Spirit, follow Paul's counsel by constantly
yielding their "members to
righteousness for sanctification [holi-
ness]"
(Rom. 6:19, RSV). The Holy Spirit's gift of righteousness
makes them holy. Paul explained: "But now that you have been set
free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is
sanctification [holiness] and its end, eternal life" (Rom. 6:22, RSV).
Sanctification is holiness, and holiness results from the gift of Christ's
righteousness when we are justified.
"Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and 'God is love.'
1 John 4:16. It is conformity to the law of God, for 'all thy command-
ments are righteousness' (Psalm 119:172), and 'love is the fulfilling
of the law' (Romans 13:10). Righteousness is love, and love is the light
and the life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ.
We receive righteousness by receiving
Him."—Thoughts From the
Mount of Blessing,
p. 18.
The Bible teaching may be outlined as follows:
1.
In justification the righteousness of Christ is both counted for us
(Romans 4) and bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9,
10).
2.
Holiness is the immediate fruitage of the gift of righteousness
(Rom. 6:19, 22).
3.
The gift of righteousness in justification (salvation) is also the gift
of holiness (1 Thess. 4:7, 8; 2 Thess. 2:13).
4.
Holiness is sanctification (Rom. 6:19, 22).
5.
Therefore when we are justified, we receive present holiness
(sanctification) in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30). The gift of Christ to our
hearts both justifies and sanctifies us. Christ comes to us when we
receive the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9, 10). Therefore the Holy Spirit
both justifies and sanctifies us. (See 1 Peter 1:2.)
47
Monday
July 31
ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT SANCTIFIES (1 Peter 1:1, 2).
One of the principles accepted by most non-Christian religions is
that human beings can make themselves good. The concepts of good-
ness vary greatly, but the idea is very common that humans can
cooperate with the gods, whoever or whatever they may be, so as to
bring themselves into conformity to their moral and ethical stand-
ards. Even many Christians have accepted the idea that their works
contribute to the level of their sanctification.
What basic principle did Paul teach on the means by which we
become righteous? Rom. 3:20-22; Gal. 2:16.
We are made right with God (justified)
only
by faith in Jesus
Christ. Our works do not make us right with God or earn the gift of
Christ's righteousness. Christ gives righteousness to the believer in
two ways: (1) His perfect righteousness is put to the believer's
account (Rom. 4:5); (2) His righteousness is bestowed upon the
believer in the new-birth experience (Rom. 3:22; 6:18; 8:9, 10).
What is the exclusive means by which we become holy (sancti-
fied)?
Rom. 15:16
2 Thess. 2:13
1 Peter 1:1, 2
"Paul teaches that believers are to be 'sanctified by the Holy
Ghost.' Romans 15:16. What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Jesus
told His disciples: 'When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will
guide you into all truth.' John 16:13. And the psalmist says: 'Thy
law is the truth.' By the word and the Spirit of God are opened to
men the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law. . . .
The followers of Christ are to become like Him—by the grace of God
to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law.
This is Bible sanctification.
"This work can be accomplished only through faith in Christ,
by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God."—The
Great Con-
troversy,
p. 469. (Emphasis supplied; see also
Selected Messages,
book 3, p. 191; Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 5, p. 1144.)
48
Tuesday
August 1
THE HOLY SPIRIT BESTOWS PRESENT HOLINESS (1 Cor.
6:11).
Sanctification is correctly defined as growth in holiness. It is "the
work of a
lifetime."—Testimonies,
vol. 3, p. 325. Because we are
fallen human beings throughout our earthly existence, having ten-
dencies to sin with which we must continually battle, our Christian
walk is a process of constant spiritual growth.
What may be our relationship with Christ at any point in the
process of spiritual growth? Consider the thief on the cross. (1)
What did Jesus promise him? Luke 23:43. (2) What characteris-
tic will be possessed by those who are taken to heaven at Jesus'
second advent? Heb. 12:14. From these two points, what conclu-
sion can you draw about the dying thief?
Study the literal translations of the following Bible passages.
What do they teach regarding present sanctification or holiness
for believers in Jesus Christ?
Acts
26:18—speaks of those "who have been sanctified by faith"
(NASB).
Rom.
15:16—speaks of the Gentiles' "having been sanctified by the
Holy Spirit" (literal translation).
1 Cor.
1:2—refers to the Corinthians as "those who have been
sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints [holy ones] by calling" (NASB).
Yet these church members were divided by controversy and
prejudice. The point is that they were spoiling the beautiful gift
of holiness given to them by the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 6:11—tells
believers, "but you were washed, but
you were
sanctified,
but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and in [by] the Spirit of our God" (NASB).
Col. 2:10—"In
Him you have been made complete [perfect, full]"
(NASB).
Heb. 10:10—"We
have been sanctified" (NASB).
"Sanctification is a state of holiness, without and within,
being holy and without reserve the Lord's, not in form, but in
truth."—Our
High Calling,
p. 214.
49
Wednesday
August 2
THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS GROWTH IN HOLINESS
(2 Cor. 3:18).
Holiness (sanctification) is the Holy Spirit's
present gift
to the
believer in Christ. But the believer has not arrived at the zenith of
spiritual development so that he or she need not experience further
growth. In the new-birth experience we are given eternal life (John
3:36). Born-again believers, who have the Holy Spirit's gift of present
holiness, have the assurance of present salvation in Christ. But they
do not have the assurance that it is impossible for them to fall into sin
and be lost.
How do we establish from Scripture that those who enjoy
present holiness and salvation by the presence of the Holy Spirit
can lose those gifts? John 15:6; 1 Cor. 9:27 (compare Luke 8:13;
11:24-26).
Having genuine fellowship with Christ by the Holy Spirit does not
mean that it is impossible for us to fall away; we have not lost our
freedom of choice. The Bible does not teach that once we have
received the new-birth experience we can never lose it. Our fallen
natures, worked upon by the evil one, are constantly urging us to
behaviors that are contrary to God's will. Therefore, even though the
Holy Spirit is in charge of our minds and bodies at this moment, it is
essential that a living faith be manifested continually through earnest
prayer, study of the Word, and witnessing. Such faith is the key to
spiritual growth.
According to the following passages, how do we grow in holi-
ness? 1 Thess. 3:12; 4:3, 7; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Peter 3:18.
Growth in holiness is the process made possible by daily reliance
upon the power of Christ given to us by the Holy Spirit. Because the
believer is still a fallen human being, sanctification as growth in-
volves constant surrender to Christ so that the Holy Spirit wins the
inner war. (See
Testimonies,
vol. 4, p. 299.)
"We need constantly a fresh revelation of Christ, a daily experi-
ence that harmonizes with His teachings. High and holy attainments
are within our reach. Continual progress in knowledge and virtue is
God's purpose for us. His law is the echo of His own voice, giving to
all the invitation, Come up higher. Be holy, holier still. Every day
we may advance in perfection of Christian character."—The
Ministry
of Healing,
p. 503.
50
Thursday
August 3
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DIRECT OUR THOUGHTS (1 Cor.
2:12-16).
Healing of the mind is Christ's work for us, performed by the
indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the present and progressive work spoken
of in Scripture as sanctification. No amount of autosuggestion will
cure our habit of wrong thinking. Only God can implant the purity
we crave as we focus our thoughts on Jesus.
How do we receive and retain Christ's mind? 1 Cor. 2:12-16
(compare Rom. 12:2; Phil. 2:5-11).
Because their minds have been transformed by the Holy Spirit,
true believers in Christ have thoughts, desires, and motives that are
implanted from above. They are pure, humble, unselfish, kind, and
loving because Jesus is. The daily gift of Christ's righteousness by
the Holy Spirit makes them holy people. They are the last to claim
holiness for themselves, but they extol Christ's holiness because they
know that Christ is living in their lives (1 John 5:10). Their thoughts
have a new direction. They have habitual victory over evil, whereas
before they suffered constant defeat.
To what extent may our thoughts be under the control of the
Holy Spirit? 2 Cor. 10:4, 5. What kind of thoughts does He
enable us to think? Phil. 4:7, 8.
If we allow Him, the Holy Spirit will "take every thought captive
to obey Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5, RSV).
"By His perfect obedience He [Christ] has made it possible for
every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit
ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is
merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts
are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it
means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as
the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the
nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness,
which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah."
Christ's Object
Lessons,
p. 312.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything wor-
thy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8, RSV).
51
Friday
August 4
FURTHER STUDY: Compare the mind of the person who does not
know Christ (Rom. 8:5, 7; Titus 1:15; Eph. 2:2, 3; Col. 1:21; Phil.
3:18, 19) with the mind of the person who does know Him (Rom. 8:6;
12:3; Ps. 1:2; 143:5).
"Christ alone can help us and give us the victory. Christ must be
all in all to us. He must dwell in the heart, His life must circulate
through us as the blood circulates through the veins. His Spirit must
be a vitalizing power that will cause us to influence others to become
Christlike and holy."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Com-
mentary,
vol. 5, p. 1144.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
Some members of your church are convinced that, because
James wrote that "faith apart from works is dead" (James
2:26, RSV), our good works play a part in making us holy.
What Bible answer can you give them?
2.
A church member is convinced that we are never holy in this
life; we are always growing toward holiness, but we won't
have it until Jesus comes. How would you help her?
3.
Another church member suggests to you that the following
quotation contradicts the teaching of this lesson regarding
present holiness in Christ: "So long as Satan reigns, we shall
have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life
shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we
can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the
result of lifelong obedience."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 560, 561. How can this statement be explained to be
thoroughly consistent with the teaching of this lesson?
(Consider also: "At every stage of development our life may
be perfect; yet if God's purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be
continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a life-
time."—Christ's Object Lessons,
p. 65.)
SUMMARY: When we are born again, the Holy Spirit bestows upon
us the righteousness of Christ. Because righteousness is holiness, we
receive both forgiveness (justification) and present holiness (sancti-
fication) when we receive Christ. We grow in holiness by daily
inviting Christ to fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit. As He controls
our thoughts, we enjoy victory over sin and gain the capacity to focus
our minds on that which is pure and lovely.
52
Church Built in 130 Days
Alejandro Bullon
Palmira do Nascimento Chagas is a young woman with en-
ergy and a vision. She accepted the challenge to participate in
the church's Global Mission outreach. The district of Barra do
Sao Joao, 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Rio de Janeiro, had no
Adventist presence, so she moved there and began working to
conquer a new territory for Christ.
Palmira visited the mayor and requested land to build a church
and a day-care center. The mayor was dubious that this young
woman could build a church, much less fill it with believers, but
he agreed to her request.
After she obtained the property she visited the city's busi-
nesses and requested donations of construction materials to build
the church and day-care facility. She successfully obtained enough
materials to begin work. Construction began in July 1993, and in
just 130 days the building was finished--a beautiful church that
seats 120 people and a day-care center that can accommodate 30
children.
But there were no Adventists in this village. So while the
church was being built, Palmira began visiting people door-to-
door and inviting them to attend a "Voice of Youth" evangelistic
series--for which she was the preacher. People were attracted by
her diligence and energy, and many came to the meetings. At the
end of the meetings 27 people were baptized, and others are
studying for baptism.
In November, just five months after the church was started,
the facilities were inaugurated. The mayor was present and
congratulated Palmira on her vision and her persistence to com-
plete such a project almost singlehandedly.
The new church contains young people like Palmira, ready to
dream and work to build up the church
and fulfill its mission.
The mayor of Barra do Sao Joao,
Brazil (left) congratulates Palmira
do Nascimento Chagas at the inau-
guration of the day-care center and
the new church. Alejandro Bullon
is the Global Mission Coordinator
for the South American Division.
For Current Newsbreak. Call I -800-648-5824.
53
Inter-American Division
Thirteenth Sabbath
Special Projects
Caribbean Union
Guyana: Construct
maternity/child-care center
at Davis Memorial Hospital
in Georgetown.
Implement a child-care-based
evangelistic outreach
in the East Indian
community of
Canal No. 2 Polder.
Trinidad: College church/
evangelistic center at
Caribbean Union College.
EVEN
AT
THE
DOOR
O
ur world is tumbling
toward the end
of a millennium and
the great question is What
next? Are these the very last
days? In
Even at the Door
G. Edward Reid presents
overwhelming evidence that
we are the generation that
will see the actual, literal
second coming of Christ in
the clouds of heaven.
Readers will be startled
at the plainness of scriptural
predictions, roused by the tes-
timony of Ellen White and
other Adventist pioneers,
and agitated to see how com-
pletely world conditions
indicate that these are the final
days. And above all, they'll
find encouragement in prepar-
ing for the most spectacular
event in history.
Paper, 250 pages
US$14.95,
Cdn$21.70
Available at your
Adventist Book Center
Call
1-800-765-6955.
Lesson 7
August 6-12
Victorious by the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Gen. 17:1; Matt. 5:48;
Rom. 14:23; 1 John 3:24; Jude 24.
MEMORY TEXT: "All who keep his commandments abide in
him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us,
by the Spirit which he has given us" (1 John 3:24, RSV).
KEY THOUGHT:
Through His Spirit, Jesus is able to keep us
from sinning and to enable us to reflect His character. The Bible
standard is fellowship with the Lord as the means of constant victory.
WE MUST COME TO TERMS WITH OUR SIN PROBLEM:
A youth flippantly commented to a preacher, "You say that unsaved
people carry a weight of sin. I feel nothing.
How heavy is sin?
Is it ten
pounds? Eighty pounds?" The preacher asked the youth, "If you laid
a four hundred pound weight on a corpse, would it feel the load?"
"Of course not," replied the youth. "It would feel nothing because
it is dead."The preacher responded, "That person too is spiritually
dead who feels no load of sin or is indifferent to its burden and
flippant about its presence."
To claim the gift of the Holy Spirit in "latter rain" power without
coming to terms with our sin problem is presumption. One of the
vital prerequisites to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us is our
willingness to forsake all sin. The delightful truth is that the Holy
Spirit so works in our hearts that we have victory over sin and are
ready for a greater outpouring of His power.
56
Sunday
August 6
JESUS IS ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING (Jude 24).
From how many of our sins is Jesus able to deliver us? Jude
24; 1 Cor. 10:13; Eph. 6:16.
Not only is Jesus able to keep us from apostatizing, he is able to
keep us from falling into
any
sin, and thus able to present us "without
blemish before the presence of his glory" (Jude 24, RSV). Because
no temptation with which we are confronted is beyond our strength to
resist when we are empowered by the Lord (1 Cor. 10:13), there is no
reason why we must be overcome by any temptation. "The shield of
faith" enables us to "quench
all
the flaming darts of the evil one"
(Eph. 6:16, RSV).
All
is an absolute word; there are no darts that
Satan can fire at us that we cannot quench when empowered by
Christ.
To argue that, because of our natural human tendencies there are
some sins that we cannot overcome, is to depreciate the power of
Christ. He promises the power to overcome any temptation that
comes our way; and He promises to neutralize all Satan's attacks
against us. Why do we doubt Him?
What other encouraging assurances do we have that, through
the power of Christ, we can be victorious in the battle with sin?
John 10:29; Eph. 3:20; Heb. 2:18.
The implications of these statements are enormous. Christ is able
to give us victory over pride, bigotry, selfishness, jealousy, dishon-
esty, impurity, bitterness, hypocrisy. He is able to give a sin-wracked
soul freedom from the crippling power of evil. He is able to impart
peace in place of passion, love in place of hatred, and trust in place of
fear.
"We are preparing to meet Him who, escorted by a retinue of holy
angels, is to appear in the clouds of heaven to give the faithful and
the just the finishing touch of immortality. When He comes He is not
to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our
characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and disposi-
tions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished
before that
time."—Testimonies,
vol. 2, p. 355.
Have you assumed that, because there are some sins you
have not overcome, Christ will overlook them and save you in
your sins? What is the antidote to this attitude?
57
Monday
August 7
THE STANDARD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (Gen. 17:1).
What spiritual standard did God hold up before Abraham
and his posterity? Gen. 17:1; Deut. 18:13.
The English word
perfect
used in the King James Version of these
verses translates the Hebrew word
tamim,
which means "complete,
incontestable, blameless, whole, perfect, innocent, upright, honest."
The same word often refers to animal sacrifices that were to be
"without blemish" (Exod. 12:5; 29:1; Lev. 1:3, 10; 22:21). This
Hebrew word is also used to refer to God as perfect (Deut. 32:4;
2 Sam. 22:31; Job 36:4). Ezekiel uses this word in describing Lucifer
before sin was found in his heart (Ezek. 28:15). The "undefiled"
(tamim),
spoken of in Psalm 119:1, "who walk in the law of the
Lord," are "the perfect."
God was asking Abraham and Israel to turn away from all sin, to
be right with Him in heart, and to obey His law perfectly.
How does 1 Kings 8:61 define what it means to have a perfect
heart with God?
The word
perfect
(KJV) in this verse translates the Hebrew word
shalem,
meaning "complete, full, finished, whole." It is the word that
described the kind of weights and measures the Lord wanted His
people to use (Deut. 25:15). The same word is used to describe the
spiritual life of King Asa (1 Kings 15:14) and Hezekiah (2 Kings
20:3). Insofar as this word was used to refer to human beings, it
focused on their spiritual victories rather than their failures. Solomon
was instructed to have a "perfect heart" (1 Chron. 28:9; 29:19).
Amaziah did right in God's sight, "but not with a perfect heart"
(2 Chron. 25:2).
The Old Testament message is decidedly in favor of fellowship
with God that enables obedience to His law. God expected His
people to keep His law because of their covenant relationship with
Him.
How would you answer the objection claiming that salvation
was by law keeping in the Old Testament period, hence the
standard given to Israel does not apply to us? Gal. 3:15-18;
Deut. 6:4-6; 30:11-14; Hab. 2:4.
58
Tuesday
August 8
THE STANDARD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (Matt. 5:48).
What standard did Jesus uphold to His followers? Matt. 5:48
(compare Col. 1:28).
The Greek word translated "perfect" (KJV) in these verses is
teleios,
which means "complete, whole, full-grown, mature."
In commenting on Matthew 5:48, Ellen White wrote: "The condi-
tions of eternal life, under grace, are just what they were in
Eden—perfect righteousness, harmony with God, perfect conformity
to the principles of His law. The standard of character presented in
the Old Testament is the same that is presented in the New Testa-
ment. This standard is not one to which we cannot attain. In every
command or injunction that God gives there is a promise, the most
positive, underlying the command. God has made provision that we
may become like unto Him, and He will accomplish this for all who
do not interpose a perverse will and thus frustrate His grace. . . .
"He tells us to be perfect as He is, in the same manner. We are to
be centers of light and blessing to our little circle, even as He is to the
universe. We have nothing of ourselves, but the light of His love
shines upon us, and we are to reflect its brightness. 'In His borrowed
goodness good,' we may be perfect in our sphere, even as God is
perfect in His.
"Jesus said, Be perfect as
your Father
is perfect. If you are the
children of God you are partakers of His nature, and you cannot but
be like
Him."—Thoughts
From the Mount of Blessing,
pp. 76-78.
Summarize the teaching of the following passages:
2 Cor. 7:1
Heb. 6:1
James 1:4
1 Peter 1:15, 16
It is difficult to imagine how the apostles could have expressed
themselves in more positive terms. Clearly they were urging total
victory over sin by Christ's power for believers who retain fallen
natures. This is the genius of the gospel. Christ is able to take the
most unpromising person and give that person His nature and His
victory.
59
Wednesday
August 9
IMPERFECT PEOPLE CAN HAVE VICTORY OVER SIN (Rom.
14:23).
How does Ephesians 4:13 define what the New Testament
writers mean by Christian perfection?
"A perfect man" (KJV) or "mature manhood" (RSV) is defined as
"the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." In other words,
Christian perfection is Christlikeness. Since "God is love," Christ
perfectly exemplified love. We are told that we cannot equal Christ's
infinitely perfect character, but that we should copy it. (See
Testimo-
nies,
vol. 2, p. 549.) We may reflect His love and live without
committing sin. (See Rev. 3:21.)
"He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can
keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an
entrance into the kingdom of God."—Ellen G. White,
Review and
Herald,
March 10, 1904.
What indications do we have that not all human imperfection
is sin? John 9:41; 15:22, 24; Rom. 14:23.
All sin is imperfection, but not all imperfection is sin.
By perfec-
tion, the Bible means a life filled with the Holy Spirit and, therefore,
free from acts of sin—whether in thought, feeling, word, or deed.
The perfection that Jesus gives us before His second advent is not
freedom from our fallen humanity. (See 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:20,
21.) Though we remain fallen in nature, yet we can have complete
victory in Christ. (See
The Desire of Ages,
p. 671.) Because we
remain fallen human beings until Jesus comes, everything we do is
tinged with human imperfection. Imperfect minds and bodies are
not capable of doing anything absolutely perfectly.
But not every-
thing we do is sin.
If all human imperfection were sin, Jesus could not have made the
statement recorded in John 15:22. Not until the people had received
light from Jesus did God regard the imperfect works they were doing
as sin. God knows that our natural human imperfections are the result
of spiritual, mental, and physical fallenness. By contrast, "sin is
lawlessness" (1 John 3:4, RSV). Christian preachers or writers would
not claim that their efforts are free from human imperfection. But
they are not sinning while they preach and write. But if God gives
them greater light, and they refuse to present that light, then they are
sinning. "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23,
RSV).
60
Thursday
August 10
SPIRIT-FILLED BELIEVERS ENJOY DOING CHRIST'S WILL
(1 John 3:24).
The Bible does not teach that the Lord grants us the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit after
we
have achieved victory over sin. It teaches that
the Spirit empowers us to overcome so that He can grant us a greater
measure of His presence and power in our lives.
According to the following passages, how does the Lord enable
us to do His will?
Ezek. 11:19, 20
Ezek. 36:27
John 14:17, 21, 23
1 John 3:24
"Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable
world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining
spiritual
.
life. The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused
to the branches, sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit.
So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the
Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and
brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling
the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds."—The
Acts of
the Apostles,
p. 284.
Compare four occasions when Jesus gave His Spirit to His
disciples: (1) Luke 9:1, 2 (1 Cor. 12:9, 10); (2) John 20:22;
(3) Acts 2:4; (4) Acts 4:31. What made possible the progressively
greater gift of the Spirit?
"The measure of the Holy Spirit we receive will be proportionate
to the measure of our desire, and the faith exercised for it, and the use
we shall make of the light and knowledge that shall be given to us.
We shall be entrusted with the Holy Spirit according to our capacity
to receive and our ability to impart it to others."—Ellen G. White,
Letter 54, 1894.
"We may have had a measure of the Spirit of God, but by prayer
and faith we are continually to seek more of the
Spirit."—Testimo-
nies to Ministers,
p. 508.
61
Friday
August 11
FURTHER STUDY: Concerning the preparation Jesus would have
us make for His second advent, study Revelation 3:1-6, Daniel 12:1,
and Revelation 19:7, 8. What did the Lord mean when He said, "I
have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God" (Rev. 3:2,
RSV)?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
What do you think Ellen White meant when she wrote the
following: "When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts
are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and
effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the defi-
ciency with His own divine
merit."—Selected Messages,
book
1, p. 382? Did she mean, "Do your best to overcome sin, but,
if you fail, Jesus knows you have done your best; He will
simply overlook your sin by counting His merits for you.
Hence, overcoming is not important; what is important is
doing your best"?
We should quote the following few sentences: "But He will
not accept those who claim to have faith in Him, and yet are
disloyal to His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal
about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works.
Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easygoing,
accommodating, crossless religion. But Jesus says, 'If any
man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me.'
"—Selected Messages,
book 1, p. 382.
Compare: "Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies."
—Selected Messages,
book 3, p. 196.
2.
In the light of this week's lesson, how do you react to this
statement by Martin Luther? "Works that result from the Word
and are done in faith are perfect in the eyes of God, no matter
what the world thinks about
them."—Luther's Works
(Saint
Louis, Mo.: Concordia, 1961), vol. 3, p. 318.
3.
One of your work associates is a Christian who believes that,
because salvation is by grace, attempting to obey the Ten
Commandments is legalism. How would you answer him?
(See Rom. 6:1-14.)
SUMMARY: While we are trusting Him, Jesus enables us to over-
come every temptation to sin. The Old and New Testament standard
is total victory through the power of the Holy Spirit. He strengthens
us to overcome, even though we remain imperfect, fallen human
beings.
62
um=
Eig
7
With Such an Army as This, part 1
Sven H. Jensen
A group of tired and dusty young people walked into the camp
where we were holding a training session for Global Mission
teams and lay evangelists from Sudan. They had walked for ten
days to bring their reports of youth evangelism in western Sudan.
The walk had taken them dangerously close to the fighting lines,
and they risked being taken captive by either government or
rebel forces. The roaring of guns and artillery had kept them
awake at night. But they arrived safely and praised God for His
protection and care.
These young people had come to report what God had done
through youth in the Year of Youth Evangelism. Nathana Buthwell,
group leader, said, "Jesus Christ blessed the works of our Youth
Societies and empowered us to preach without fear. As a result
344 souls were baptized during 1993."
The young people tell of victory in spite of hardships. In some
cases no ordained pastor has been able to reach their area to
baptize the people they have prepared. But through it all, the
youth are confident that God has been with them in a special
way.
Buthwell tells about the evangelistic effort in the village of
Mvolo: "The chief accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour, then he
invited young and old to come and hear the truth. He gave a piece
of land for a church in Mvolo and asked the young men to build a
church and a house for the Global Mission team." The evangelis-
tic team visited door to door and held public meetings in the
marketplace. A pastor of another denomination let them preach
in his church twice a month, and three days a week they con-
ducted morning devotions in public. When an Adventist pastor
came to Mvolo, he baptized 16 persons. The chief of Mvolo is
pleased that the true religion has come to his area.
When another team began visiting homes in their territory,
they soon found enough interested people to begin a Sabbath
School. By the end of the year 36 had been baptized. Many in
this community are interested in the gospel, but polygamy is an
obstacle to the truth. There are many children here, and we hope
in this new year that the church will experience much growth.
Sven H. Jensen is the church ministries director in the Middle
East Union.
I.or Current Newsbreak. Call 1-800-648-5824.
Lesson 8
August 13-19
The Promise of Rain
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Joel 1, 2; John 14-16; Acts 1.
MEMORY TEXT: "He sends you abundant showers, both
autumn and spring rains, as before" (Joel 2:23, NIV).
KEY THOUGHT: The Lord assures us that, if we wait upon Him
in earnest prayer and surrender to His will, He will pour the Holy
Spirit upon us as He pours needed rain upon the parched earth.
THE RAINDROPS OF GOD'S BLESSINGS REFRESH HIS
THIRSTING PEOPLE. When a preacher died, his loved ones found
a neat package of his sermons with a note attached that read: "Where
has the influence gone of all these sermons I have preached?"
On the other side of the card was this answer: "Where are last
year's sunrays? They have gone into fruits and grain and vegetables
to feed mankind. Where are last year's raindrops? Forgotten by most
people, of course, but they did their refreshing work, and their influ-
ence still abides."
The influence upon humanity of the refreshing outpourings of the
Holy Spirit cannot be measured. As the rain provides nourishment to
germinate seed, to cause plants to grow, and to ripen the harvest, "so
the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another,
the process of spiritual
growth."—Testimonies
to Ministers,
p. 506.
In this lesson we study God's promise of rain, His assurance that,
if by faith His people fulfill the conditions, they will receive more
abundant life-giving showers of His Spirit.
64
Sunday
August 13
WHEN THE SPIRIT IS RAINED UPON US (Joel 2:23).
What was one of the ways the Lord demonstrated His ap-
proval or disapproval of ancient Israel? Lev. 26:3, 4; Deut. 11:13,
14; 28:12.
An agricultural society would find very meaningful God's provi-
sion of rain as a symbol of His blessing, and the absence of rain as a
symbol of blessings withdrawn. This symbolism is common through-
out the Old Testament. At the dedication of the temple, Solomon
prayed that the Lord would grant rain when the people repented of their
sins (1 Kings 8:35, 36). God revealed His disapproval of Israel's apos-
tasy in Elijah's time by allowing a three-and-one-half-year drought
(1 Kings 17:1, 7, 14). Job, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Amos, and Zechariah
pointed to rain or lack of it as a special mark of divine favor or disfavor.
(See Job 5:10; Jer. 3:2, 3; Isa. 5:5, 6; Amos 4:7; Zech. 14:17.)
Rain in general, but especially the two most important annual
rainfalls, the early and latter rains, are used to illustrate God's loving
acceptance of His faithful people.
In Palestine, the "early rain" ("former" or "autumn" rain) falls late
in October or in November when the seed is sown. The "latter rain"
coming in the spring, in March and early April, facilitates the ripen-
ing of the grain for the harvest.
What specific divine gifts does rainfall represent? Hosea 6:3;
10:12; Joel 2:23, 28 (compare Isa. 32:15-17).
The Lord comes to us "as the spring rains that water the earth"
(Hosea 6:3, RSV). As we respond in love to His appeals, He "comes
and showers righteousness" upon us (Hosea 10:12, NIV). Righteous-
ness is bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit (Isa. 32:15-17). The
obvious intent of the Bible writers is to use rainfall as a symbol of the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon God's people. (Compare the New
Testament emphasis: Acts 14:17; James 5:7, 8, 16-18.)
This intent was shared by Joel. The Hebrew of Joel 2:23 may be
translated, "He has given to you the early rain for righteousness," or,
as the NIV renders it, "He has given you a teacher for righteousness."
Either way, considering the text in relation to verse 28, the reference
is to the gift of the Holy Spirit, who, as Christ's representative, is our
source of righteousness. When the Spirit is rained upon us, we have
the qualification for salvation—righteousness.
65
Monday
August 14
WHY THE RAIN IS NEEDED (Joel 1, 2).
As you read the first two chapters of Joel, ask yourself:
What major events have caused the desolation of the land? Joel
1:4, 19, 20; 2:3-9.
What impression do you receive regarding the spiritual condition
of Israel at that time? Joel 1:5, 9, 11, 13; 2:12, 13.
For what immediately future event is the Lord seeking to prepare
His people? Joel 1:15; 2:1, 2, 11.
In view of the emergency situation, what counsel does the Lord
give? Joel 1:14; 2:12-17.
How does the Lord restore His people materially and spiritually?
Joel 2:18-27.
Now apply Joel 1 and 2 to the professed people of God today.
Why are we in our present spiritual condition? What immedi-
ately future events should we prepare for? What should we do
now to make preparation? (See 2 Peter 3:7-14.)
Joel saw the restoration of the literal early and latter rains
(Joel 2:23). Then, looking into the distant future, what did he
predict would happen just prior to the end-time day of the Lord?
Joel 2:28-32.
As we interpret Joel 2:28-32, we must consider a number of
important facts: (1) The context of the passage is the restoration of
the early and latter rains (verse 23); (2) Joel predicted that the great
outpouring of the Spirit would come a short while before the day of
the Lord; (3) Peter applied the passage to the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).
"In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God,
the Lord by the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of
His Spirit. Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfillment in
the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost; but it will reach
its full accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which
will attend the closing work of the gospel."—The
Great Controversy,
p. ix.
66
Tuesday
August 15
JESUS REPEATS THE PROMISE (John 14:16-18).
In His discussion with His disciples after the Last Supper,
what topics led up to the promise of the Holy Spirit? John 14:1-3,
6, 9, 12, 15.
Jesus focused on His going away and His eventual return. In the
interim, His disciples needed to depend on Him as the one equal with
and united with the Father (verses 9-11). It was important for them to
understand that by vibrant faith in Him they constantly could receive
the spiritual resources for effective service and acceptable obedience
(verses 12-15). "While He was building mansions for them, they
were to build characters after the divine similitude."—The
Desire of
Ages,
p. 663.
List the aspects of the Holy Spirit's work for believers that
Jesus promised in the following passages:
John 14:17,18, 23
John 14:26; 16:13
John 15:26; 16:14, 15
John 16:8-11
"The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit
from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be
given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ
would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthen-
ing for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity
was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the
mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come
with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the
Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's
Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the
Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has
given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and
cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon
His church. . . .
"The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The
honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the
character of His people."—The
Desire of Ages,
p. 671.
67
Wednesday
August 16
THE COMMAND TO TARRY (Acts 1:8).
After Jesus' resurrection, what first step did He take to fulfill
His promise of the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit? John
20:22, 23.
In the same interview, Jesus bestowed three blessings upon His
disciples: (1) peace (John 20:21); (2) the commission to continue the
work assigned Him by the Father (verse 21); (3) the ability and
responsibility to apply on earth decisions that had already been made
in heaven.
Verse 23 is correctly rendered by Randolph
0.
Yeager: "If you
forgive the sins of anyone, they have already been forgiven for them.
If you retain the sins of anyone they have already been retained."
(Compare Matt. 16:19; 18:18.)
Yeager comments on the Greek of the passage: "Thus at the time
that the Christian witness remits or retains a sinner's sins, those sins
in question are the ones that have already been forgiven or retained
as a result of the previous completed action. Thus the action of the
preacher is only a ratifying action of a situation that has already been
fixed and which therefore currently prevails."—Randolph
0.
Yeager,
The Renaissance New Testament
(Gretna, La.: Pelican, 1982), vol. 9,
p. 19.
The disciples could enjoy these remarkable qualifications for Chris-
tian life and service only by receiving the special gift of the Holy
Spirit. Hence, Jesus imparted a measure of this gift at this time.
"Before He left His disciples, Christ 'breathed on them, and saith
unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.' John 20:22. Again He said,
`Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you.' Luke 24:29.
But not until after the ascension was the gift received in its fullness.
Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered
themselves fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit
received."—Christ's
Object Lessons,
p. 327.
Why did Jesus instruct His disciples to remain in Jerusalem
for a period of time after His ascension? Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8.
Jesus met intermittently with His disciples for a forty-day period
after His resurrection (Acts 1:3). During the ten days between His
ascension and Pentecost they were to remain in the city, communing
with God and with one another in preparation for the great outpour-
ing of the Spirit.
68
Thursday
August 17
THE DAYS BEFORE PENTECOST (Acts 1:14).
What events occurred in heaven after Jesus' ascension? Phil.
2:9-11; Heb. 1:8-13.
"He [Jesus] enters into the presence of His Father. He points to
His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His
hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His
triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him
as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from
the grave at His second coming. . . .
"The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied.
Satan is vanquished. . . .
"With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers ac-
knowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life. The angel host pros-
trate themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts
of heaven, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and bless-
ing.' Rev.
5:12."—The
Desire of Ages,
p. 834.
How did Jesus' disciples spend the ten days between His as-
cension and Pentecost? Luke 24:52, 53; Acts 1:12-14.
Note the following description of the disciples' activities during
this period given in
The Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 35-37:
1.
Prayer: "They . . . met together to present their requests to the
Father in the name of Jesus. They knew that they had a Representa-
tive in heaven, an Advocate at the throne of God" (p. 35).
"The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to
meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would
lead sinners to Christ. . . . They were weighted with the burden of the
salvation of souls. They realized that the gospel was to be carried to
the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised. . . .
"Now, in obedience to the word of the Saviour, the disciples
offered their supplications for this gift [the gift of the Holy Spirit],
and in heaven Christ added His intercession" (p. 37).
2.
They humbled their hearts in true repentance: "As the
disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled
their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief" (p. 36).
69
Friday
August 18
3.
They put things right with one another: "Putting away all
differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in
Christian fellowship" (p. 37).
4.
They repeated the truths Jesus had taught: "As they called
to remembrance the words that Christ had spoken to them before His
death they understood more fully their meaning. Truths which had
passed from their memory were again brought to their minds, and
these they repeated to one another. They reproached themselves for
their misapprehension of the Saviour" (p. 36).
5.
They meditated on Christ's life: "As they meditated upon His
pure, holy life they felt that no toil would be too hard, no sacrifice too
great, if only they could bear witness in their lives to the loveliness of
Christ's character" (p. 36).
FURTHER STUDY: Consider how, between Christ's ascension and
Pentecost, the Holy Spirit led the disciples in the selection of a
successor to Judas: Acts 1:15-26.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
What parallels are there between the disciple's circumstances
from Christ's ascension to Pentecost and our situation today?
2.
Do you see need for your local church to copy the activities of
the disciples between the ascension and Pentecost? How can
such activities be arranged?
3.
One of your friends regards regular prayer for the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit as an evidence of fanaticism. How would
you go about convincing him otherwise?
4.
To what extent do you sense that the Holy Spirit has qualified
you to work for Christ? Are you conscious of the Spirit's work
in your heart, bringing you closer to Christ and enabling you
to overcome sin? If not, how can you have this experience?
SUMMARY: Throughout Scripture, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
is often symbolized by rainfall. Jesus expanded upon the promises of
Old Testament prophets for a special outpouring of His Spirit upon
repentant, believing people. After His death and resurrection, His
disciples devoted themselves to heart-searching and prayer in prepa-
ration for the unprecedented infilling of the Spirit that their Lord had
forecast.
70
Global Mission
IC
;STZ;
Ci
With Such an Army as This, part 2
Sven H. Jensen
During the training session for youth evangelism teams in
Sudan, Wilson Wani and Benjamin Luke told how God helped
them in a difficult situation. "When we reached Tambura [Su-
dan] we were arrested and sent back because we did not have the
right documents. On the way we witnessed to many people we
met.
"In June we headed for Tambura again, but this time we were
detained at Yambio. We were, however, free to move about, and
we began to visit and give Bible studies. In one month we had a
group of 15 studying with us, and we started a Sabbath School.
By December we were 20."
God had His hand over these two young men in a marvelous
way: "When we were imprisoned and threatened, we could have
given in to fear, but we learned to trust God more and pray more,
and we learned to depend on Him to supply our most basic
needs. We had no relatives or friends to feed us, but we never
went one day without food. Others who were in custody received
many lashes, but we stayed three weeks without a single strike.
Others labored seven days a week, but for us Sabbath was free."
Another team, made up of Domian Festus and Silvanus John,
went to Agutran. They were welcomed by the local government
officials. After they had worked there for several months, 84
people were attending their meetings. Several were ready for
baptism, but no pastor has been able to reach them yet. Many of
them are now living as Adventists and are waiting for a pastor to
come and baptize them. By November there was no water in
Agutran, and the whole village moved south. But when the rain
comes in April these two will return to Agutran and continue
their ministry.
After the training session these young people will return to
their individual fields with new courage and a good supply of
Bibles and other materials. They will raise up new congrega-
tions in the unentered areas of southern Sudan. With God's
continued blessing and such dedicated young people, this year
can be another banner year for Global Mission in this troubled
land.
Sven
H. Jensen is the church ministries director in the Middle East
Union.
For Current Newsbreak, Call 1-800-648-5824.
Lesson 9
August 20-26
The Former Rain
Sabbath
Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Joel 2:23; Acts 2:1-47;
4:23-37; John 3:5-7.
MEMORY TEXT: "For the promise is to you and to your
children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord
our God calls to him" (Acts 2:39, RSV).
KEY THOUGHT: The former rain began with the great outpour-
ing of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. It continues as it
began, as both a corporate and an individual experience.
PENTECOST BEGAN THE FULFILLMENT OF JOEL'S
PROPHECY: Joel illustrated the special bestowal of the Holy Spirit
upon the church by Palestine's former and latter rains (Joel 2:23, 28,
29). Peter applied Joel's prophecy to the outpouring of the Spirit on
the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21). But Joel pinpointed the time of
the Spirit's outpouring to the period immediately prior to the great
day of the Lord (Joel 2:30-32). Pentecost began the former rain, and
the final great bestowal of the Spirit upon God's people shortly
before Jesus comes will be the latter rain.
"The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the
beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. . . .
"But near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of spir-
itual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the
Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of
the latter rain."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 54, 55.
72
Sunday
August 20
PENTECOST (Acts 2:1-36).
Describe the manner in which the Holy Spirit was bestowed
upon Christ's disciples after their ten days of fellowship and
prayer. Acts 2:1-4.
There was a sound, an appearance, an infilling, and an immediate
result. The "tongues" were not fire; they
appeared
like fire. Each
praying disciple was filled with an unprecedented measure of spir-
itual power.
The believers began to speak the languages of other nations.
Why? Acts 2:4-12.
The Spirit is not given primarily for emotion, but as a means of
holiness and the power to witness. It was not merely a case of the
many nationalities present in Jerusalem for Pentecost
hearing
the
disciples speaking in other tongues (verses 6, 11); the disciples were
actually
speaking
them (verse 4).
"The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have
accomplished for themselves in a lifetime. They could now proclaim
the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages
of those for whom they were laboring. This miraculous gift was a
strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of
Heaven. From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure,
simple, and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in
a foreign language."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 39, 40.
Analyze the sermon Peter preached after being filled with the
Holy Spirit. Acts 2:22-36.
1.
The sermon was Christ-centered.
Jesus of Nazareth, who was
crucified, had been raised from the dead and now was sitting at the
right hand of the Father in heaven. "God has made him both Lord and
Christ" (Acts 2:36, RSV).
2.
There was frank exposure of sin.
"This Jesus . . . you crucified
and killed by the hands of lawless men" (verse 23, RSV). The Lord
and Christ is "this Jesus whom you crucified" (verse 36, RSV).
3.
The sermon was based on Scripture.
Note how Peter interpreted
Psalm 16:8-11. Jesus, not David, was the one delivered from the
corruption of the grave. Jesus, not David, was the one who ascended
to heaven (verse 34).
73
Monday
August 21
THE RESULTS OF PENTECOST (Acts 2:37-47).
In the passages indicated, identify the results of Pentecost that
are listed here:
Conviction (Acts 2:37)
Repentance (verses 38, 40)
Baptism (verses 38, 41)
Spiritual devotion (verse 42)
Love and sharing (verses 44-47)
Healing (Acts 3:1, 2, 6-8)
Courage in witnessing (Acts 3:11-19)
How do we know that the great Pentecostal outpouring of the
Holy Spirit can be ours today? Acts 2:39.
"To us today, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the
Spirit belongs. God will today endow men and women with power
from above, as He endowed those who on the Day of Pentecost
heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His
grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word.
"Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity,
when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the
Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had
been put away. . . .
"So it may be now. Let Christians put away all dissension and
give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in
faith for the promised blessing, and it will
come."—Testimonies,
vol. 8, pp. 20, 21.
The evil one mounts a counteroffensive when God's people,
filled with the Spirit, take the gospel to the world. Acts 4:1-4.
Peter's response was motivated by the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8). He
placed the responsibility for the death of Christ precisely where it
belonged (verse 10, 11). Only through Him whom His persecutors
had crucified is salvation possible (verse 12).
74
Tuesday
August 22
THE EXPERIENCE OF PENTECOST REPEATED (Acts 4:23-
37).
After Peter and John were released from prison, what did the
believers do? Acts 4:23-30. What was the immediate result? Verse
31. Compare the spiritual condition of the believers at this time
(verses 32-37) with their condition as described in Acts 2.
Once again the answer came in response to earnest prayer. Notice
how the prayer pulsates with praise, faith, and assurance. Note also
that there were physical manifestations, as well as spiritual, when the
Lord poured His Spirit upon the praying believers (verse 31). The
resulting spiritual power dramatically influenced individual lives, as
well as the corporate body. Love, unity, and generosity reigned
supreme, while Christ crucified, resurrected, and ministering for
sinners was the central focus of the church's witness (verse 33).
How were the apostolic church's evangelistic efforts influ-
enced by the power given at Pentecost? Acts 8:4-8. When was the
Holy Spirit received by the believers in Samaria? Acts 8:14-17.
Despite the traditional animosity between Jews and Samaritans,
Philip's Spirit-filled preaching moved multitudes in Samaria. But
these new converts needed to develop confidence in the church's
Jewish leaders. Thus the outpouring of the Spirit upon the Samaritan
believers was given
after baptism,
when Peter and John visited Samaria
and prayed for them.
Was the Spirit bestowed upon the believers in Cornelius' house-
hold before or after baptism? Acts 10:44-48.
Cornelius and his followers were Gentiles. The Jewish Christians
needed to be convinced that God accepted them as readily as He did
Jews. Hence, the Spirit was poured out upon these Gentiles
before
baptism,
as evidence that they were thoroughly qualified to be bap-
tized and become regular members of the church. (Compare Acts
19:1-7.)
Has the former rain been given to your local church? If not,
under what circumstances can it be received?
75
Wednesday
August 23
THE FORMER RAIN IN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE (John 3:5-
7).
What is the former rain for the individual believer? John 3:5-
7; Eph. 3:14-20; James 5:7, 8.
When we accept Christ as Saviour and Lord, He comes into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, and our personal former-rain experience
begins. What happened corporately for the body of believers at
Pentecost happens as effectively, even though usually less dramati-
cally, in individual experience.
James borrowed Old Testament symbolism in urging believers to
wait patiently for the second coming of Jesus (James 5:7, 8). The
farmer knows that his crops will mature only if watered by both the
former and latter rains. Even so, Christian believers will be ready for
the Lord's harvest only by receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit in both
the former- and latter-rain experience. In the former rain the seed is
germinated, and the plant grows. In the spiritual realm, the divine
seed of truth is germinated by the new-birth experience and nour-
ished thereafter by daily renewal of the Holy Spirit's presence.
Consider the dramatic work of the Spirit in the individual heart
(Eph. 3:14-20): Verse 16, He strengthens us spiritually. Verse 17, He
brings Christ's presence to our hearts. Verses 18, 19, He enables us
to grasp something of the massive dimensions of Christ's love. Verse
19, He fills us with "all the fulness of God"(RSV). Verse 20, He is
the power within us to accomplish "far more abundantly than all that
we ask or think" (RSV).
In relation to the passage we have just studied, consider the
enormous significance of Colossians 2:10 (compare Rev. 3:2-5).
The same Greek verb is used in Colossians 2:10 as in Revelation
3:2,
pleroo,
which means "to make full, fill, fulfill, bring to comple-
tion, finish, bring to an end." In both the KJV and the RSV of
Revelation 3:2, this verb is translated "perfect." Born-again believers
are "complete" or "perfect" in Christ now because the Holy Spirit is
reigning in their lives. But they are growing toward that spiritual
state in which their "works" (Greek
erga,
Rev. 3:2) will be as "full,"
"complete," "perfect" in God's sight as it is possible for Spirit-
controlled, fallen human beings to be. The work of the former rain
produces continuous spiritual growth.
76
Thursday
August 24
WHY IS THE FORMER RAIN VITALLY IMPORTANT? (Joel
2:23).
In relation to our discussion of Colossians
2:10,
the following two
statements are especially significant:
1.
Faithful Christians are complete in Christ now:
"They become
partakers of His nature, and day by day grow up to the full stature of
men and women in Christ. The sanctification of the Spirit is seen in
thought, word, and deed. Their ministry is life and salvation to all
with whom they associate. Of such ones it is declared, 'Ye are
complete in Him.' Colossians
2:10."—Counsels to Parents,
Teachers, and Students,
p. 491.
2.
Continuous spiritual growth results in perfection of Christian
character:
"Are we striving with all our power to attain to the stature
of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever
pressing toward the mark set before us—the perfection of His char-
acter? When the Lord's people reach this mark, they will be sealed in
their foreheads. Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in
Christ, and the recording angel will declare, 'It is finished.' "—Ellen
G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 6, p. 1118.
There is "no stopping place" for spiritual growth, but there is a
stopping place for acts of sin. (Compare
The Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 560, 561 with
Early Writings,
p. 71.)
Why would the latter rain be ineffective if the former rain had
not fallen? Joel 2:23; Isa. 32:15-17.
The Hebrew of Joel
2:23
may be translated: "He has given to you
the early rain for righteousness."
"Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can
bring no seed to perfection. . . . There must be a constant develop-
ment of Christian virtue, a constant advancement in Christian experi-
ence. This we should seek with intensity of desire. . . .
"Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. . . .
They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the
richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their
hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. .. . The heart must
be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the
Spirit. . . . It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work,
making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the
grace represented by the former
rain."—Testimonies to Ministers,
pp. 506, 507.
77
Friday
August 25
FURTHER STUDY: Relate Romans 8:1-17 to the former-rain work
of the Holy Spirit. Read "Pentecost" and "The Gift of the Spirit" in
The Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 35-56.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
A Christian friend tells you that unless you speak in tongues
you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit. What answer
would you give?
2.
A member of the church confides in you that she accepted the
advent message without being born again. What steps would
you suggest she take to have this experience and to maintain it
in the future?
3.
Why is it not legalism to believe that we can have the character
of Christ and overcome sin as He did?
4.
If you were asked how your church could have a genuine
spiritual revival, what would you suggest?
5.
Why is it dangerous to assume that other people are not
enjoying the blessings of the former rain? How can we be sure
that we are enjoying those blessings?
SUMMARY: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of
Pentecost was the historical beginning of the former rain in the
gospel era. The Christian church was launched by an unprecedented
bestowal of the Spirit upon the believers. This manifestation was
repeated a number of times in the apostolic church. The former rain
in individual experience begins with the new birth and continues as
the Spirit daily sanctifies the heart. This experience is essential to
salvation and essential to reception of the latter rain.
78
0, .1
11:;:. • :"It
Global Mission
Modern Dorcas of Myanmar
Nancy Bassham
Daw Nambu is an ordinary housewife, living a busy life in
Yangon, the capital of Myanmar (Burma). She and her hus-
band have two daughters and three sons.
Her husband is a wealthy businessman. He mines jade; his
company is known for producing the highest quality jade in
Myanmar. Every month he gives his wife a generous amount
of money to pay the bills, run the household, and pay the
children's school tuition.
Daw Nambu loves the Lord, and she wants to do something
special for Him. Out of her monthly allowance she sets aside
an offering for conducting evangelistic campaigns throughout
the Myanmar Union Mission. In one month she donated
enough to help conduct 10 evangelistic meetings. So far 124
people have been baptized as a result of these evangelistic
meetings.
Daw Nambu also helps to pay the salaries of a number of
church school teachers and has sponsored students at the
Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary who otherwise would
not be able to attend an Adventist school. She helps the poor
and needy with food, clothes, and other necessities.
Daw Nambu actively witnesses for her faith in person as
well as through her giving. She has led her own children to
Christ and has won many others to the Lord. In 1993 Daw
Nambu helped to build two churches.
She is indeed a modern Dorcas in Myanmar.
Nancy Bassham is Women's
Ministries Director Far Eastern
Division.
For Current Newsbreak, Call 1-800-648-5824.
79
Lesson 10
August 27-September 2
The Gifts of the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Gal. 5:22-26; Rom. 12:1-
21; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Eph. 4:1-16.
MEMORY TEXT: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the
same Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:4, NIV).
KEY THOUGHT:
Even though the Holy Spirit produces the
same spiritual
fruit
in the lives of all believing Christians, because
spiritual
gifts are
many and varied, the church, like the human body,
comprises a group of interdependent, cooperating members.
THE USEFULNESS OF ONE SURRENDERED LIFE.
"One
of the most famous legends about the violinist Paganini originated
one night in Paris at the height of his popularity. . . . During the
concert while tuning his violin, one of the strings snapped. Without
bothering to replace it he went on tuning, but a second then a third
string broke. A murmur of surprise rippled through the auditorium.
Pausing, Paganini announced, 'Ladies and gentlemen, one string and
Paganini.' The result is a legend. The master violinist brought from
his one-stringed instrument a range of melodies the audience thought
impossible. He left the stage amid tumultuous applause.
"One string and Paganini. One surrendered soul and Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit can take your life and mine, can satisfy, fill, and
overflow, extending the influence of the Lord Jesus wherever we live
and move."—Roy C. Naden,
Your Spiritual Gifts
(Berrien Springs,
Mich.: Instructional Product Development, 1989), pp. 10, 11.
80
Sunday
August 27
THE SPIRIT'S FRUIT FOR ALL (Gal. 5:22-26).
The fruit of the Spirit is the Christlike traits of character imparted
to all who accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
How did Paul contrast the attitudes and behavior of individuals
whose fallen natures are ruling, with the attitudes and behavior of
those in whose hearts the Holy Spirit is reigning? Gal. 5:16-23.
Living by the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to vanquish
the unholy desires of our fallen minds and bodies (Gal. 5:16). Failing
to live by the Spirit is the reverse: allowing the desires of our fallen
natures to sabotage the Spirit's control. Because the "sinful nature
desires what is contrary to the Spirit" (verse 16, NIV), when we ca-
pitulate to the clamoring of the sinful nature, we deny the Spirit
control. Then we think, speak, and act in ways opposite to our best
intentions. The latter part of Galatians 5:17 translates: "so that you
do not do what you want" (NIV).-This is exactly the problem Paul
defines in Romans 7:15-23.
"The acts of the sinful nature" (Gal. 5:19, NIV) are sinful acts
(verses 19-21). When the Holy Spirit controls us, our attitudes and
acts are holy: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith-
fulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22, 23, NIV).
How many of those who belong to Christ reveal the fruit of the
Spirit? Gal. 5:24.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature
with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24, NIV). That being so, the list
of unholy attitudes and acts listed in verses 19-21 are excluded from
the lives of all "who belong to Christ Jesus." And the fruit of the
Spirit (verses 22, 23) is manifested by all committed Christians.
The genius of the gospel is that, because of the cross, Christ
develops in believers with vastly different personalities and cultural
backgrounds the same beautiful character qualities. Whatever our
distinctive spiritual
gifts,
our lives are to reveal the same spiritual
fruit.
In the light of Paul's instruction (Gal. 5:16-26), under what
circumstances does a Christian cease to belong to Christ? (Com-
pare Rom. 8:9.)
81
Monday
August 28
YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD (1 Cor. 12:12-27).
Some church members are reluctant to become involved in church
activities because they feel inferior to those whom they regard as
more talented or more consecrated. Because they think that the gifts
of others are more valuable than their own, they choose to "take a
back seat" or "keep a low profile."
How did Jesus address this problem? Matt. 25:14-30.
"If they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are
theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a
power that will tell upon hearts. God makes them the channel for the
outworking of the highest influence in the universe."
"It was the one with the smallest gift who left his talent unim-
proved. In this is given a warning to all who feel that the smallness of
their endowments excuses them from service for Christ. If they could
do some great thing, how gladly would they undertake it; but because
they can serve only in little things, they think themselves justified in
doing nothing. In this they err. The Lord in His distribution of gifts is
testing character."
"However small your talent, God has a place for it. That one
talent, wisely used, will accomplish its appointed work. By faithful-
ness in little duties, we are to work on the plan of addition, and God
will work for us on the plan of multiplication. These littles will
become the most precious influences in His
work."—Christ's
Object
Lessons,
pp. 328, 355, 360.
How did Paul illustrate that no spiritual gift is more impor-
tant than another? 1 Cor. 12:12-27 (compare Rom. 12:3-5; Eph.
4:1-6).
The church is spoken of in Scripture as "the body of Christ"
(1 Cor. 12:27). Paul rejects the argument that our eyes are more
important than our ears, or that a foot is less significant than a nose.
Some may respond that we can live without an eye, but we cannot
live without a heart. Quite so; but the function of the heart would be
superfluous if the other parts of the body were absent.
Every believer's gift is important. What spiritual gift can
you bring to your church?
82
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83
Tuesday
August 29
HOW AND WHY DO WE RECEIVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS? (Eph.
4:12-16).
Spiritual gifts "are specific abilities given to Christians by the
Holy Spirit so we can serve others in nurture and/or outreach."—Roy
C. Naden,
Your Spiritual Gifts,
p. 43.
"The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially
the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy
Spirit."—Christ's Ob-
ject Lessons,
p. 327. As we will see, these special gifts are in addition
to, or in some cases further developments of, our natural and ac-
quired abilities. Unbelievers have natural and acquired abilities, but
they do not have the special gifts of the Spirit.
According to Paul's counsel in the following passages, how do
we receive spiritual gifts? Eph. 4:7-10; Rom. 12:1, 2;1 Cor. 12:1-3.
Christ's death and resurrection made it possible for Him to bestow
greater gifts upon His church than ever before. "Not until after the
ascension was the gift [of the Spirit] received in its fullness. Not until
through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves
fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit received. Then
in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the fol-
lowers of Christ. 'When He ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.' Eph. 4:8,
7."—Christ's Object
Lessons,
p. 327.
It is inconceivable that anyone can receive the gifts of the Spirit
before first obeying the counsel of Romans 12:1, 2 and 1 Corinthians
12:1-3. The discussion of spiritual gifts that follows both passages
presupposes the willingness of the reader to submit to Christ's trans-
forming grace.
Why does Christ impart special spiritual gifts to His fol-
lowers? How does He intend us to use these gifts? Eph. 4:12-16
(compare 1 Cor. 12:7; Rom. 12:9-21).
Nowhere are we told that spiritual gifts are primarily for emo-
tional excitement. Paul indicates that the two major purposes of these
gifts are:
(1)
the spiritual nurture of Christ's church ("until we all attain
to . . . the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" [Eph. 4:13,
RSV]);
(2)
witnessing to unbelievers ("for the work of ministry" [Eph.
4:12, RSV]).
Wednesday
August 30
QUALITIES THAT QUALIFY (1 Cor. 12:4-11).
Paul's lists of spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-9; 1 Cor. 12:8-11, 28-31;
Eph. 4:11) include both spiritual qualities and specialized ministries.
Obviously none of the lists is exhaustive. As specific needs arise in
the church, the Holy Spirit equips those whom He wishes to fulfill
the needs.
Note the spiritual qualities that Paul includes in the following
two lists of the Spirit's gifts: Romans 12:6-9; 1 Corinthians 12:8-
11. How would you illustrate the use of each gift in the apostolic
church?
1.
Exhortation (Rom. 12:8): The Greek word means "encourage-
ment," "comfort," "consolation." (See 1 Thess. 2:11, 12.)
2.
Mercy (Rom. 12:8): The Greek word means "to have mercy or
pity," "to show mercy," "to do acts of mercy." (See 2 Tim. 1:16-18.)
3.
Wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8): Paul refers to the wisdom that God
imparts. (See 1 Cor. 2:6-8.)
4.
Knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8): Paul means the knowledge of Christ
and of God that believers are to impart to others. (See 2 Cor. 10:5;
Rom. 15:14.)
5.
Faith (1 Cor. 12:9): Paul refers to confidence in God, true piety,
genuine religion, faithfulness, reliability, recognition and acceptance
of Christian teaching. (See 1 Thess. 1:3, 8.)
6.
"Discerning of spirits" or spiritual insight (1 Cor. 12:10): This
gift is the ability to distinguish between truth and error. It includes
the capacity to identify, on the basis of God's Word, teachers who are
of God and those who are not. (See 1 John 4:1-6; Rev. 2:6.)
Every genuine Christian, regardless of gender and race, possesses
these qualities to some extent. But not every Christian has the spe-
cialized ability of which Paul is speaking. The person having the
spiritual gift of encouragement is able to achieve more in this direc-
tion than those who do not possess this gift. Some believers have
special wisdom beyond that of others. All have faith, but some are
distinguished by their
outstanding
faith.
84
1 Cor. 12:9-11, 28-30
Eph. 4:11
Rom. 12:6-8
Thursday
August 31
SPIRIT-DIRECTED MINISTRIES (1 Cor. 12:9-11, 28-30).
List the Spirit-directed ministries that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians
12:9-11 and 28-30. Beside this list, match the ministries mentioned
in Ephesians 4:11 and Romans 12:6-8. Note that Ephesians 4 and
Romans 12 refer to some gifts not mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:
We will define these gifts in alphabetic order:
Apostles (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11):
Apostles chosen by Christ,
but in the broad sense, anyone who is an ambassador for Christ—one
who is sent, a delegate, messenger, envoy, missionary. (See Phil.
2:25; "messenger" KJV = apostle.)
Contributors (Rom. 12:8, "he that giveth," KJV):
Those who
give for others and the advancement of the gospel.
Evangelists (Eph. 4:11):
Preachers of the gospel.
Healers (1 Cor. 12:9, 28):
All those who minister to the physi-
cally sick.
Helpers (1 Cor. 12:28), or servers (Romans 12:7, "ministry,"
KJV):
Those who render practical assistance; for example, deacons
and deaconesses.
Leaders (Rom. 12:8, "he that ruleth," KJV; 1 Cor. 12:28,
"governments"):
Administrators whose responsibility is to superin-
tend and manage.
Miracle workers (1 Cor. 12:28):
Those through whom the Spirit
does supernatural things. (See Acts 3:5-8.)
Pastors (Eph. 4:11):
Ordained ministers (shepherds) and all those
who nurture the flock spiritually.
Prophets (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10, 28; Eph. 4:11):
Those to
whom God grants special revelations, and those who instruct the
church. (See 1 Cor. 14:5.) Seventh-day Adventists believe that the
prophetic gift was given to Ellen G. White in fulfillment of Revela-
tion 12:17 (compare Rev. 19:10).
85
Friday
September 1
Teachers (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11): Those who give
instruction from God's Word.
Tongues speakers (1 Cor. 12:10, 28): The gift of speaking the
truth in languages that, when interpreted, edify the church. (See
1 Cor. 14:5; Acts 2:4, 11.)
Tongues interpreters (1 Cor. 12:10, 30): Those with the ability
to translate and explain the message presented in a language not
understood by the hearers. (See 1 Cor. 14:27, 28.)
FURTHER STUDY: Study the teaching of 1 Corinthians 14 on the
gift of tongues. As you consider the meaning of the chapter, note the
following:
The word
unknown
(1 Cor. 14:2, 4, 14) is not in the Greek text.
First Corinthians 14:14 may be translated: "If I pray in a tongue, my
spirit [mind] prays, but my thought [meaning] is fruitless." The word
spirit
(Greek:
pneuma)
as used in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint,
LXX) and in the Greek New Testament often means mind, or in-
cludes mind. (See LXX of Exod. 28:3; Deut. 34:9; 1 Chron. 28:12;
Job 20:3; and Matt. 26:41; Rom. 1:9; 8:16; 1 Cor. 2:11.) The word
mind
(Greek
nous)
often means "thought," or "meaning." (See LXX
of Isa. 40:13, Joshua 14:7, and Rom. 1:28; 11:34; 1 Cor. 1:10; 2:16.)
The genuinely Spirit-filled Corinthian who spoke in tongues under-
stood what he was saying; his mind was operative. But his thought or
meaning was profitless, because no one else understood—unless
someone interpreted the language. The Spirit-filled speaker was not
experiencing an uncontrollable ecstatic state in which his mind was
inoperative while his feelings were in control.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
Why are some spiritual gifts that Paul lists not seen in the
church today? What other gifts that Paul does not list can you
see being employed?
2.
If you do not know your distinctive spiritual gifts, what might
be the problem? How can you discover your gifts?
SUMMARY: The fruit of the Spirit is not the same as the gifts of the
Spirit. The Spirit's fruit applies to the elements of Christlike charac-
ter enjoyed by all committed Christians. The gifts of the Spirit are
talents or abilities bestowed upon us for service to others. These gifts
may involve an intensification of already existing talents, or they
may be abilities that we did not have before.
86
The Donut-shaped Cloud
J. H. Gate
A group of youth went to an unentered area on a nearby island
in the South Pacific to conduct meetings. After receiving permis-
sion from the leaders, the youth gathered jungle materials and
built a shelter in which to hold public meetings.
It was hard work in the tropical sun. They set up heavy poles to
support the walls and roof, then tied smaller poles in place for the
frame of the building. They covered the walls with woven mats
and placed a platform and benches inside the building.
Villagers gathered for the meeting that evening. The next morning
the youth discovered that someone had torn down their building.
Only a pile of materials remained. With great effort they rebuilt
their shelter in time for the evening meeting. But the following
morning their hall was again in ruins. Again they rebuilt it. This
happened two more days. On the fifth morning, the group found
only ashes.
There was no time to gather new materials and rebuild. The
young people prayed for wisdom and help. An elderly gentleman
approached. "I am sorry that my people have treated you this way.
Come.
I
have materials at my home, and room for a building.
I
will help you." With praises to God, they built a new building.
The local religious leader who had ordered some ruffians to
burn the building thought the youth would leave the village.
When he saw the new building he called the rough youth together.
He gave each a bamboo torch. "Burn it to the ground," he ordered.
The Voice of Youth team heard of the plot; they rushed to the
new hall and climbed onto the roof. As light from the torches
encircled them, they pleaded for God's protection.
Then, one by one the torches began to go out. It was raining all
around them, but not on their little church. The rain fell from a
donut-shaped cloud above the meeting hall! News of the miracle
spread through the village. Many were convinced of God's pres-
ence in the cloud and in the meetings the youth were conducting.
Today this village has a church.
This is the spirit of Global Mission. As
courageous members press into new areas,
the Lord leads them and protects them.
J. H. Gate, ministerial secretary in the South
Pacific Division, told this story to James
Zachary (left), associate secretary of the Gen-
eral Conference Ministerial Association.
For Current Newsbreak, Call I -800-648-5824.
87
Lesson 11
September 3-9
How Jesus Enables Us to
Receive the Latter Rain
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Jer. 3:13-15; Joel 2:12-17;
Acts 1:8, 14; 4:32.
MEMORY TEXT: " 'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to
me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourn-
ing.' Rend your heart and not your garments" (Joel 2:12, 13,
NIV).
KEY THOUGHT: We are prepared for the latter rain when we
are enjoying the fullness of the former rain's blessings.
"A REVIVAL OF TRUE GODLINESS AMONG US IS THE
GREATEST AND MOST URGENT OF ALL OUR NEEDS. To
seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to
obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to
bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to
receive it. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy
Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good
gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation,
repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which
God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be ex-
pected only in answer to prayer. While the people are so destitute of
God's Holy Spirit, they cannot appreciate the preaching of the Word;
but when the Spirit's power touches their hearts, then the discourses
given will not be without
effect."—Selected
Messages,
book 1, p.
121.
88
Sunday
September 3
CONFESSION (Jer. 3:13-15).
What is the inevitable result when people attempt to conceal
their sins? Prov. 28:13 (compare Isa. 29:15; 30:1).
The philosophy or attitude that God will save us in our sins is one
of the insurmountable barriers to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
(See Matt. 1:21.) God's Spirit and sin cannot coexist in a human
heart. Even though we remain fallen and regularly experience natural
urges to sin, our unholy propensities can be surrendered to the con-
trolling, empowering Holy Spirit. Refusal to face up to one's per-
sonal sin problem, refusal to admit that certain modes of thought and
behavior are arresting our spiritual growth, renders it impossible for
the Lord to give us the former rain in its fullness.
"When sin has deadened the moral perceptions, the wrongdoer
does not discern the defects of his character nor realize the enormity
of the evil he has committed; and unless he yields to the convicting
power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to his sin.
His confessions are not sincere and in earnest. To every acknowl-
edgement of his guilt he adds an apology in excuse of his course,
declaring that if it had not been for certain circumstances, he would
not have done this or that for which he is reproved. But the examples
in God's word of genuine repentance and humiliation reveal a spirit
of confession in which there is no excuse for sin or attempt at self-
justification."—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 641.
What wonderful promises does the Lord give to those who
acknowledge their guilt and confess their sins? Jer. 3:13-15, 17,
18.
Spiritual restoration is followed ultimately by eternal restoration.
As the Lord pleaded with His people in Jeremiah's day, so He pleads
with us. They were in danger of being engulfed by literal Babylon;
we face the possibility of absorption by spiritual Babylon. The prom-
ises made to ancient Israel on condition of heartfelt confession are
now available to spiritual Israel.
"Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready
for the heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the
latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that
is purified from every defilement.
"It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be
fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord."
—Evangelism,
p. 702.
89
Monday
September 4
THE HUMBLING OF OUR HEARTS (Acts 4:32).
When Jesus' disciples were constantly in conflict over who
was to be the most important leader in the church, how did Jesus
teach them humility?
Matt. 23:8-12
Mark 9:33-37
Luke 22:24-27
John 13:3-17
As long as the disciples were attempting to climb over one another's
shoulders to the highest place in the kingdom, Christ could not
prepare them for the crises ahead. They were tragically unready for
His arrest and trial, and totally unprepared for the humiliation of
seeing their Leader nailed to a cross. Little else disqualifies for
service in Christ's cause as effectively as does selfish ambition.
What dramatic change among Christ's followers made it pos-
sible for Him to pour the former rain upon them? Acts 4:32.
"Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity,
when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the
Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had
been put
away."—Testimonies,
vol. 8, p. 20.
"Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they
came close together in Christian fellowship. They drew nearer and
nearer to God, and as they did this they realized what a privilege had
been theirs in being permitted to associate so closely with Christ."
—The Acts of the Apostles,
p. 37.
Early in 1903, Ellen White described a vision she had received in
1902 depicting what might have happened at the 1901 General Con-
ference session. (See
Testimonies,
vol. 8, pp. 104-106.) In vision she
saw church members humbly making things right with one another
and with the Lord. There was a time of great revival and rejoicing.
"The words were spoken to me:
'This might have been.
All this the
Lord was waiting to do for His people.' " But it did not happen.
Pray that it will happen in our day.
90
Tuesday
September 5
REPENTANCE (Joel 2:12-17).
Why is repentance a prerequisite to the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit? Joel 2:12-19; Hosea 6:1-3.
Returning to the Lord with "fasting, with weeping, and with
mourning" (Joel 2:12, RSV) does not mean that we induce repent-
ance by self-imposed grieving. Mourning is not the means of genuine
repentance; it is the result of repentance. As we come to the Lord,
earnestly seeking a change of heart, He gives us repentance as a gift
(Rom. 2:4). Repentance is sorrow for sin and turning away from it.
Luther said, "To do so no more is the truest repentance."
Joel instructed Israel's spiritual leaders to call the people together
for worship and communal repentance (Joel 2:15-17). How appropri-
ate for us is the prayer, "Spare thy people,
0
Lord, and make not thy
heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations" (Joel 2:17, RSV)!
Why should Christ's followers live in a constant state of re-
pentance? Acts 26:20; Gal. 5:16.
Ongoing repentance does not involve continual mourning for past
sins; it is constantly turning to Christ as the One who can deliver
from sin. "At every advance step in Christian experience our repent-
ance will deepen. . . . We shall know that our sufficiency is in Christ
alone."—Christ's Object Lessons,
pp. 160, 161.
What special promises does the Lord make to the genuinely
repentant? Acts 2:38, 39; 3:19.
"I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and
were looking to the time of 'refreshing' and the 'latter rain' to fit
them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how
many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! . . . I saw that
none could share the 'refreshing' unless they obtain the victory over
every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over
every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing
nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that prepara-
tion necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the
Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy
beings can ever dwell in His presence."—Early
Writings,
p. 71.
91
Wednesday
September 6
PRAYER (Acts 1:14).
What example of prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit was set
by Christ's first disciples? Acts 1:14; 8:15.
"In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance,
`Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it
you.' . . . Higher and still higher they extended the hand of faith, with
the mighty argument, 'It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh inter-
cession for us.' . . .
"The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to
meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would
lead sinners to Christ."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 35-37.
Notice, it was not prayer for an emotional experience; it was
prayer for the spiritual fitness that only the Holy Spirit can produce.
According to Zechariah, when should we pray for the out-
pouring of the Holy Spirit? Zech. 10:1. How insistent should be
our prayers? Luke 11:5-13.
Can anyone doubt that we are living in the time of the latter rain?
The signs Jesus outlines in Matthew 24 are appearing in rapid suc-
cession. By means of the latter rain, the Lord will fulfill to spiritual
Israel the encouraging assurances He gave through the prophet
Zechariah: "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the
house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion
on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them; for I am
the Lord their God and I will answer them" (Zech. 10:6, RSV). This
is the result of prevailing prayer!
"The circumstances may seem to be favorable for a rich outpour-
ing of the showers of grace. But God Himself must command the rain
to fall. Therefore we should not be remiss in supplication. We are not
to trust to the ordinary working of providence. We must pray that
God will unseal the fountain of the water of life. And we must
ourselves receive the living water. Let us, with contrite hearts, pray
most earnestly that now, in the time of the latter rain, the showers of
grace may fall upon
us."—Testimonies to Ministers,
p. 509.
"Let Christians . . . ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it
will
come."—Evangelism,
p. 701.
How can you encourage the members of your church to pray
for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
92
Thursday
September 7
WILLINGNESS TO WITNESS (Acts 1:8).
Christ promises to bestow the Holy Spirit upon His people in a
greater measure than ever before in history. "The outpouring of the
Spirit in the days of the apostles was the former rain, and glorious was
the result. But the latter rain will be more
abundant."—Evangelism,
p. 701. But this wonderful gift will not be evidenced by great outbursts
of uncontrolled emotion. The two major purposes for the gift of the
Spirit are:
1.
Our spiritual fitness.
2.
Power for witnessing.
What did Jesus foresee His disciples would do after receiving
the former rain? Acts 1:8.
Jesus visualized a global mission motivated and empowered by
the Holy Spirit. The first-century believers were to take the gospel
message "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NIV). Did they fulfill
their commission? (See Acts 4:33; 5:20, 21; 8:4; 22:15; Col. 1:23.)
Because they received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the
Day of Pentecost, Christ's followers were transformed in character.
They were poor in this world's goods, but rich in faith and spiritual
power. Rejected by the great of this world, they nonetheless pro-
claimed the gospel with impressive eloquence and unabated zeal.
The burden of their message was the saving power of the crucified
and risen Christ. (See
Testimonies to Ministers,
p. 67.)
"Through the cooperation of the divine Spirit the labors of the
humble men whom Christ had chosen stirred the world. To every
nation under heaven was the gospel carried in a single generation."
--Education,
pp. 95, 96.
To how many of earth's inhabitants must the three angels'
messages be taken? Rev. 14:6. What is the responsibility of every
believer? Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20.
"The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the
whole earth with His glory, will not come until we have an en-
lightened people, that know by experience what it means to be
laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted
consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by
an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be
while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with
God."—Christian Service,
p. 253.
93
Friday
September 8
FURTHER STUDY: On the importance of repentance for those
who would enter into fellowship with God, study the following
passages: Ezek. 18:31; Hosea 14:2; Matt. 3:2; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30.
Read "Calls for a Revival" in
Selected Messages,
book 1, pp. 121-
128.
"If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with His
Spirit."—Christ's Object Lessons,
p. 419.
"The church must arouse to action. The Spirit of God can never
come in until she prepares the way. There should be earnest search-
ing of heart. There should be united, persevering prayer, and through
faith a claiming of the promises of God. There should be, not a
clothing of the body with sackcloth, as in ancient times, but a deep
humiliation of soul. We have not the first reason for self-
congratulation and self-exaltation. We should humble ourselves un-
der the mighty hand of God. He will appear to comfort and bless the
true seekers."—Selected
Messages,
book 1, p. 126.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
A friend in the church tells you that she confesses her sins
every night but commits the same kind of sins again the next
day. How would you help her?
2.
Do you think the Lord plans to wait until everyone in the
church has adequately fulfilled the conditions before giving
the latter rain? Why do you think as you do? (See
Selected
Messages,
book 1, p. 122.)
3.
When you read that willingness to witness is a prerequisite to
receiving the latter rain, do you feel somewhat fearful? In
what ways can you use your special talents in witnessing, even
though you feel you cannot speak in public?
SUMMARY: The Lord gives the Holy Spirit in both former- and
latter-rain power in His own way and in His own time. But He asks
us to place ourselves in the mainstream of His power by (1) confess-
ing our sins; (2) allowing Him to humble our hearts; (3) receiving His
gift of repentance; (4) seeking Him regularly in prayer; (5) being
willing to allow His Spirit to use us as witnesses to others.
94
Insist
Excuses
Cathie Jolly
•
I've cried today (and it's not the first time) for the Mongolian
young people. Let me share with you why I've cried.
Candace* whispers to me during a meeting that when her
older brother learns that she has come to meet with us, she will
be beaten. As she leaves, she asks us pray for her, but the
pleading in her eyes says much more than her words.
Tabitha's* father died ten years ago, leaving a large Buddhist
family. Tabitha types for us, and I think the meal we serve her
when she works is often her only meal that day.
The Buddhist lamas exercise great control over Tabitha's family.
Recently a lama told them that they must move because too many
people have died within their yard. They must allow an old
relative to live with them because she has an angry Buddha idol
that they can appease. An older sister's spirit has left, meaning
she will die unless the lamas can "call" the spirit back (for a fee).
After the encounter with the lama, Tabitha's mother forbade her
to attend our meetings anymore. She is devastated.
Esther* is 18 years old and lives with her uncle so she can
work in a hospital laboratory. Since she first came to our worship
services less than five months ago, her aunt and uncle have
fought with her over her belief in Jesus. Last night when she
arrived home, the tirade began. She thought to herself. "I can
take this. Jesus loves me." She held tightly to a tiny heart-shaped
eraser with the words "Jesus loves you" on it.
Worn down by her uncle's tirade, Tabitha finally agreed not to
come to the meetings anymore. When her uncle left the room,
she sat sobbing, "Jesus, I love you." She opened her hand and
looked at the eraser. She wept, "Like Judas I have betrayed my
Lord." Tabitha has a terminal illness. When she went for her
treatment, she talked with Him through her pain.
So, what keeps you from- church? Is it boring? Do you need
the extra sleep? Is it a beating? Your pride? Young people in
Mongolia wouldn't for a second ac-
cept those excuses! They know that
when Jesus comes, there will be no
excuses!
Cathie Jolly, with her husband,
Brad, are Adventist Frontier mis-
sionaries in Mongolia. *Names of
the three teens have been changed.
I
95
Lesson 12
September 10-16
Sealed by the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Eph. 1:13, 14; 5:27; Rev.
6:9-11; 14:1-5.
MEMORY TEXT: "Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion
stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thou-
sand who had his name and his Father's name written on their
foreheads" (Revelation 14:1, RSV).
KEY THOUGHT: We receive the
initial
seal of the Holy Spirit
when we are born again. The Spirit's
end-time
seal is given a short
time before the close of probation to those who are overcoming by
dependence upon Christ. (See
Early Writings,
p. 71.)
PREPARATION FOR THE END-TIME SEAL OF GOD is
the same process as preparation for the latter rain.
"Not one of us will ever receive
the seal of God
while our charac-
ters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the
defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defile-
ment. Then
the latter rain
will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon
the disciples on the day of
Pentecost."—Testimonies,
vol.
5, p. 214.
(Italics supplied.)
We "remedy the defects in our characters" by constant depend-
ence upon Christ, constant submission to the Holy Spirit's reign in
our hearts. When this experience is habitual to us and, thus, our soul
temples have been purified of sin, we will receive the end-time seal
of God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in latter-rain power.
96
Sunday
September 10
SEALED BY THE NEW BIRTH (Eph. 1:13, 14).
What does the Holy Spirit do for those who believe in Christ?
Eph. 1:13, 14 (compare Eph. 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:21,
22).
The Greek verb translated "to seal"
(sphragizo)
may refer to
fastening or securing a place, a building, or a tomb (Matt. 27:66). As
long as we retain the Holy Spirit's ruling presence, He seals our
hearts so that the evil one cannot overcome us (1 John 3:9; 5:18). The
verb
to seal
may also mean to mark with a seal as a means of
identification. The Holy Spirit "establishes us . . . in Christ" by
putting His seal upon our hearts (2 Cor. 1:21, 22, RSV). We are now
identified as belonging to Christ (Rom. 8:9). The verb
to seal
may
also mean to certify, attest, or acknowledge authority, or ownership,
as a seal does when it is placed on a document. The Father's seal
upon the Son (John 6:27) certifies that the Son belongs to the Father
and has His authority. The Holy Spirit in our hearts establishes not
only that we belong to God but also that we have His certification of
eternal life because He shares His character with us (John 3:36; Rom.
8:10).
The Holy Spirit is the
"guarantee
of our inheritance until we
acquire possession of it" (Eph. 1:14, RSV). The word
guarantee
(Greek:
arrabon)
means
"first instalment, deposit, down payment,
pledge,
that pays a part of the purchase price in advance, and so
secures a legal claim to the article in question, or makes a contract
valid; . . . in any case,
arrabon
is a payment which obligates the
contracting party to make further payments."—Arndt and Gingrich,
The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
(Chicago: Univer-
sity of Chicago Press, 1957), p. 109.
What a magnificent thought that, because we have the presence of
the Spirit in our hearts, we have the first installment of the eternal life
that will finally be bestowed upon us when Jesus comes! (See John
5:24.)
When are we first sealed by the Holy Spirit? John 3:5-8. How
can we retain this seal? Gal. 5:16, 18, 22-24.
Receiving and retaining the new-birth experience is the same as
receiving the former rain. This initial seal of the Spirit is vital to
reception of the final seal of the Spirit when the latter rain is poured
upon us. "Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter
rain can bring no seed to perfection."—Testimonies
to Ministers,
p. 506.
97
Monday
September 11
THE RIGHTEOUS DEAD VINDICATED (Rev. 6:9-11).
The pre-advent, investigative judgment in heaven vindicates the
righteous dead on the basis of their fellowship with Christ at the time
of death. The same judgment vindicates living believers who are
enjoying the blessings of the former rain. This vindication is pre-
requisite to the living believer's reception of the end-time seal of
God and the latter rain. (See Dan. 7:9-14; 12:1.)
In connection with Revelation 6:9-11, consider the following
questions. What altar did John see? Who are the souls depicted
as under the altar? Why are they pleading for God to judge and
avenge them? What happens when they are judged? How close to
the end of time does this judgment occur?
The altar
is the altar of burnt offering in the court of the sanctuary.
The vision is of people who have been sacrificed. The only place
where Israelites were to offer sacrifices was at the altar of burnt
offering (Lev. 17:1-8). In the offering of animal sacrifices, the excess
blood was poured at the base of the altar of burnt offering (Lev. 4:7,
18, 25, 30). The blood represented life (Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:10, 11;
Deut. 12:23). The blood poured at the base of the altar symbolized
the blood of Christ (Ps. 22:14; Isa. 53:12) and the blood of faithful
martyrs (Phil. 3:10).
What is the martyrs' cry?
"How long before thou wilt judge and
avenge our blood?" (Rev. 6:10, RSV). Though asleep in their graves,
their blood cries from the ground that they have not yet been judged
or vindicated. (See Gen. 4:10.) Many martyrs were put to death in the
early Christian centuries and during the Middle Ages. In modern
times many have laid down their lives for Christ. But they were not
judged and vindicated at the time of their death.
What happens when they are judged?
"They were each given a
white robe" (verse 11, RSV). The robe here represents vindication in
the heavenly judgment. This is a fulfillment of Daniel 7:22, "Judg-
ment was rendered in favor of the holy ones of the Most High" (JPS).
When are they judged?
They are told to "rest a little longer" (verse
11, RSV). They are soon to be awakened from their sleep at the
coming of Jesus. (See 1 Cor. 15:51-54.)
Revelation 6:9-11 clearly establishes that there is a heavenly pre-
advent judgment, which decides who among the dead can be given
eternal vindication.
How do we prepare for vindication in the pre-advent judg-
ment?
98
Tuesday
September 12
LIVING BELIEVERS MADE COMPLETE (Rev. 6:11).
What is to happen on earth before the righteous dead are
raised? Rev. 6:11.
The verse translates literally from the Greek text: "And a white
robe was given to each of them, and it was said to them that they
should rest yet a little time, until their fellow servants and their
brethren, who are about to be killed as they were,
might be made
complete."
Most translations speak of a "number" of living believers
being put to death before the dead are raised. But the word "number"
does not occur in the Greek text, nor is the making up of a number a
necessary connotation of the Greek verb
(pleroo)
that we have trans-
lated "might be made complete." (The connotation "to complete a
number" is not characteristic of the Septuagint [Greek Old Testa-
ment] usage, nor is the verb ever used in the New Testament with that
meaning.) The verb means "to make full, to fill, fulfill, to complete,
finish something already begun."
The New Testament often uses this verb in contexts that mean
God's will is to be perfectly fulfilled in and by believers who are
filled with the Holy Spirit. (See Rom. 8:4; 2 Cor. 10:5, 6; Gal. 5:14;
Eph. 3:19; 5:18; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 2:10; 2 Thess. 1:11; Rev. 3:2; see
Lesson 9.)
When and how are the living brothers and sisters of the dead
saints made complete in Christ? Compare Rev. 6:11 and 19:7, 8.
Notice the context of Revelation 19:7, 8. The judgment is fin-
ished, for "he has
judged
the great harlot . . . and he has
avenged
on
her the blood of his servants" (Rev. 19:2, RSV). The work of judging
and avenging for which the dead are represented as praying is now
finished. The people of God have been exonerated and their enemies
condemned. Just as in Revelation 6:10, 11 the faithful dead were
judged worthy of vindication (white robes), so in Revelation 19 the
Lamb's living "Bride" (RSV) is granted this gift. This heavenly gift
enables God to consider the deeds of the bride righteous (verse 8).
The process by which she made ready was the process of appropri-
ating the gift, the end result of which is "righteous deeds" (verse 8,
RSV). At the end of the judgment (verse 2), the bride is ready (verse
7); her deeds are judged wholly righteous (verse 8). The marriage
ceremony of the Lamb (the judgment) is completed (verse 7).
How can we receive Christ's righteousness every day?
99
Wednesday
September 13
SEALED BY CHRLST'S CHARACTER (Rev. 14:1-5).
The sealing of Christ's end-time people (Rev. 7:1-8) does not occur
after the second coming of Jesus, described in Revelation 6:12-17.
God's people are sealed when they are finally made complete in Christ
(Rev. 6:11). At the second advent the sealed believers are the only
ones able to stand with unshaken confidence in Christ. Revelation 7:1-
8 answers the question in Revelation 6:17.
What is represented by the seal placed in the foreheads of
Christ's faithful living people? Rev. 7:1-3; 14:1.
By Christ's grace, the living believers will be obeying all His
commandments, including the Sabbath command. They will be sealed
before the winds of strife are let loose (Rev. 7:1-3), that is, before the
close of probation. Ellen White wrote: "Reference to our published
works will show our belief that the living righteous will receive the
seal of God prior to the close of
probation."—Selected Messages,
book 1, p. 66.
John declares that the seal of God placed in the foreheads of the
living righteous is "his name and his Father's name" (Rev. 14:1,
RSV). Christ's name and the Father's name symbolize their charac-
ter. (See Isa. 43:7; 50:10; 57:15.) How does Christ reproduce His
character in us? By bestowing the Holy Spirit upon us (Rom. 8:9,
10).
"The pure and holy garments are not prepared to be put on by any
one
after
he has entered the gate of the city. All who enter will have
on the robe of Christ's righteousness, and the name of God will be
seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostle
saw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and
loyal obedience to all of God's commandments."—Sons
and Daugh-
ters of God,
p. 370.
What will be the spiritual condition of those who receive the
seal of God? Rev. 14:5.
"Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves
before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth—these are
receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in
their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is im-
pressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity."
—Testimonies, vol.
5, p. 216.
100
Thursday
September 14
VICTORIOUS AND GROWING (Eph. 5:27).
How does the New Testament emphasize the spiritual goal
toward which every committed Christian is moving?
Eph. 1:4
Eph. 5:27
Col. 1:22
Jude 24
Each of these verses uses the same Greek word that occurs in
Revelation 14:5: "for they are
spotless"
(RSV). The Greek word
translated "spotless"
(amomos)
also means "unblemished, blameless,
faultless."
"The spotless robe of Christ's righteousness is placed upon the
tried, tempted, faithful children of God.
The despised remnant are
clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the corrup-
tions of the world.
Their names are retained in the Lamb's book of
life, enrolled among the faithful of all ages. They have resisted the
wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by
the dragon's roar. Now they are eternally secure from the tempter's
devices. Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin. 'A fair
miter' is set upon their heads.
"While Satan has been urging his accusations, holy angels, unseen,
have been passing to and fro, placing upon the faithful ones the seal of
the living
God."—Prophets and Kings,
p. 591 (italics supplied).
Even though God's sealed people are "nevermore to be defiled
by the corruptions of the world," will they continue to be tempted
and tried? Until when will we have fallen natures to be subdued?
Phil. 3:20, 21.
The Bible teaches that God's sealed people will have victory over
sin. It also teaches that they remain fallen human beings with natural
biases toward sin until Jesus comes—sinful biases that are subdued
by the Holy Spirit.
"We cannot say, 'I am sinless' till this vile body is changed and
fashioned like unto His glorious body. But if we constantly seek to follow
Jesus, the blessed hope is ours of standing before the throne of God
without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, complete in Christ, robed in
His righteousness and perfection."—That
I May Know Him,
p. 361.
101
Friday
September 15
FURTHER STUDY: On the goal of spiritual victory through the
power of Christ, see the following: 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:11-13; 1 Peter
1:15, 16; Rev. 3:2-5. Read "The Seal of God" in
Testimonies,
vol. 5,
pp. 207-216 (see also pp. 475, 476).
"No one need say that his case is hopeless, that he cannot live the
life of a Christian. Ample provision is made by the death of Christ for
every soul. Jesus is our ever-present help in time of need. Only call
upon Him in faith, and He has promised to hear and answer your
petitions. . . .
"It is now that we must keep ourselves and our children unspotted
from the world. It is now that we must wash our robes of character
and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now that we must
overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. . . .
"Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed
upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be
placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or
woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men and women
of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be
without spot before God—candidates for
heaven."—Testimonies,
vol.
5, pp. 215, 216.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
A Christian friend tells you that, because he has received
Christ as Lord and Saviour, complete obedience to the Ten
Commandments is not necessary.
In fact,
he says that the idea
of complete obedience is legalism. How would you answer
him?
2.
Since Christ's true followers are "complete" in Him now (Col.
2:10), why should any further spiritual growth be necessary?
Why should the Lord say to His tempted people, "Be holy
yourselves in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15, RSV)?
3.
If you were asked to summarize the means by which fallen,
sinful human beings can prepare for the end-time seal of God,
what would you say?
SUMMARY: The new-birth experience is the initial seal of the Holy
Spirit. God's purpose is to mold His believing people spiritually so
that His Spirit is continually reigning in their hearts and His truth is
their perpetual delight. Then He will give them the end-time seal of
the Spirit, and they will be Christ's for eternity.
102
,O
)
Mahal Missies
1C
QF
A Woman of Distinction
Maye Porter
In Papua New Guinea (PNG), an island north of Australia,
women are often not valued as equal with men. But well-trained
and capable women such as Merrilyn Andon, a theology graduate
from Sonoma Adventist College and PNG Union Mission's child
ministries director, are making a positive impact in the field.
Children are drawn to her kindly ways; older women respect
her ability and opinions; and the men, who at first were skeptical
of a woman in a male-dominated workplace, admire her profes-
sional abilities, and her devotion to duty. When Merrilyn voices
her opinion on a subject, people listen.
Laughing at physical inconveniences, Merrilyn travels around
the islands of her territory via mission plane, dugout canoe, car,
or even the occasional bicycle or tractor and trailer, ministering
to children and training the adults who guide them.
Merrilyn teaches practical methods in Christian parenting,
family worship, and Christian education. She emphasizes the
need for Bibles and Sabbath School lesson books for each child,
for Sabbath School rooms in churches, and trained leaders and
teachers for the children, for money to buy quarterly supplies,
and for baptismal classes in places where the idea of spiritual
nurturing for children is new.
But she weeps when she sees children who have no place to
meet, no lessons to study, no teachers to teach them, and no
pastor who is aware of their needs. She pleads on behalf of the
children, and the church leaders respond. The number of children
in Sabbath School classes has doubled in the past few years, and
orders for Sabbath School supplies have increased.
Churches are providing rooms for children's classes. Parents
are practicing new skills in child training. Pastors are developing
skills to lead children to the Saviour while they are still young.
Outreach activities include the children, who now have their own
Sabbath School lessons.
God, who especially loves children, con-
tinues to bless Merrilyn and her colleagues
who work with Him.
Merrilyn Andon (left) is Child Ministries
director in the Papua New Guinea Union
Mission. Maye Porter is Women's Minis-
tries Director in the Papua New Guinea
Union Mission of the South Pacific Division.
103
Lesson 13
September 17-23
The Latter Rain
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Jer. 5:18-31; Joel 2:28-32;
Rev. 18:1-5.
MEMORY TEXT: "I saw another angel come down from
heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with
his glory" (Revelation 18:1).
KEY THOUGHT:
The latter rain is the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit with unprecedented power. This gift prepares the church for
the final proclamation of the gospel and for the time of trouble.
THE LATTER RAIN PREPARES GOD'S PEOPLE FOR THE
ADVENT.
"The latter rain, falling near the close of the season,
ripens the grain and prepares it for the sickle. . . . The ripening of the
grain represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the
soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be
perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the
likeness of Christ. . . .
"It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making
man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace
represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light
they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in
the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recog-
nize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be
falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it."
—Testimonies to Ministers,
pp. 506, 507.
104
Sunday
September 17
WHY HAVE WE NOT HAD THE LATTER RAIN? (Jer. 5:18-
31).
What promise and warning did the Lord give ancient Israel
through Moses? Deut. 11:13-17.
Rain is essential to agricultural prosperity. As we observed in
Lesson 8, the Lord promised both the early and latter rains as long as
His people were willing to obey Him. The Lord linked the prosperity
of His people to their willingness to fellowship with Him and to do
His will.
Why did the Lord speak such stern words of rebuke through
Jeremiah? Jer. 3:1-3; 5:18-31. Are we in any way repeating the
sins of ancient Israel?
Spiritual adultery was rampant in ancient Israel. Leaders and
people were honoring false gods and counselors. Dishonesty, impu-
rity, unbridled ambition, manipulation of others for one's personal
advantage, and ethical, moral, and spiritual indecency of all varieties
afflicted God's professed people. With infinite sorrow the Lord ex-
claimed: "Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring
rain has not come" (Jer. 3:3, RSV). "But this people has a stubborn
and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do
not say in their hearts, Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the
rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain" (Jer. 5:23, 24,
RSV).
What challenging counsel do the prophets give those who are
longing for the latter rain? Hosea 5:15; 6:3; Joel 1:12-18; 2:23, 28.
"There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of
God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the
Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an
impenitent congregation. . . . When the way is prepared for the Spirit
of God, the blessing will come. . . . Wicked men and devils cannot
hinder the work of God, or shut out His presence from the assemblies
of His people, if they will, with subdued, contrite hearts, confess and
put away their sins, and in faith claim His promises. Every tempta-
tion, every opposing influence, whether open or secret, may be suc-
cessfully resisted, 'not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith
the Lord of hosts' (Zech.
4:6)."—Selected Messages,
book 1, p. 124.
105
Monday
September 18
WHEN WILL WE RECEIVE THE LATTER RAIN? (Joel 2:28-
32).
According to the prophet Joel, at what period in history will
the latter rain occur? Joel 2:28-32.
Notice that Joel has the latter rain occurring
before
the final signs
of Christ's coming. The "portents in the heavens and on the earth"
are followed immediately by deliverance at the Lord's coming for
those who call upon Him. "Those who escape" are the "survivors"
who have responded to the Lord's call by pleading with Him for
deliverance (Joel 2:32, RSV).
Joel speaks of a dark day "before the great and terrible day of
the Lord comes" (Joel 2:31, RSV). When does this dark day
occur? Isa. 13:9-11; Ezek. 32:5-8.
Israel experienced days of the Lord when, because of their un-
faithfulness, their enemies were permitted to attack them. These
local days of the Lord were types or examples of the great end-time
day of the Lord when Jesus will appear. The darkness of the local
days of the Lord pointed forward to the darkness that will envelop the
earth immediately before Jesus' second advent. The historical dark
day, May 19, 1780, foreshadowed the time immediately before Jesus'
coming when "a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the
night, falls upon the earth."—The
Great Controversy,
p. 636.
Compare Revelation 6:11-17 with Joel 2:28-32.
Joel places the final great outpouring of the Holy Spirit shortly
before the events that announce Christ's appearing. John depicts the
righteous dead being judged and the living believers being made
spiritually complete just before the events associated with Jesus'
coming. As we saw in last week's lesson, when God's people are
spiritually complete, they receive the end-time seal of the Holy Spirit
(Rev. 7:1-3; 14:1-5). Thus Joel and John are speaking of the same
events: the seal of God and the latter rain given to those who have
repented of sin and have submitted to the cleansing, sanctifying work
of the Holy Spirit.
How is your friendship with Jesus growing in preparation
for the latter-rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
106
Tuesday
September 19
THE LATTER RAIN UPON GOD'S PEOPLE (Joel 2:28, 29).
What particular phenomena will occur when the latter rain is
given? Joel 2:28, 29 (compare Acts 2).
Old and young, all God's faithful ones around the world will be
imbued with spiritual gifts that will enable them to witness for
Christ. As on the Day of Pentecost, barriers and restraints will be cast
off as the Spirit inspires them to uplift the crucified and risen Saviour
to those dying in sin. (See
SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 6, p. 1055.)
What does the outpouring of the Spirit do for the spiritual life
of God's people? 2 Cor. 3:18 (compare Rom. 8:1-4, 29).
Describing the effect of the latter rain, Ellen White wrote: "The
company of guardian angels around them had been doubled,
and they
were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet.
They
moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances
expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing
struggle they had passed through. Yet their features, marked with
severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven.
They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the
deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy.
"The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been
shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did
not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to
perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they
were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately
filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks.
Evil angels still pressed around them, but could have no power over
them.
"I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with
great power. It had effect. Many had been bound; some wives by
their husbands, and some children by their parents. The honest who
had been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold
upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was
exalted to them. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it
was dearer and more precious than life. I asked what had made this
great change. An angel answered, 'It is the latter rain, the refreshing
from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.' "
—Early Writings,
p. 271 (italics supplied).
107
Wednesday
September 20
"THE EARTH WAS LIGHTENED WITH HIS GLORY" (Rev.
18:1).
How will the earth be "lightened" with the glory of Christ
shortly before His advent? Rev. 18:1.
The Greek word translated "glory"
(doxa)
occurs 168 times in the
New Testament. In the majority of instances it refers to the glorious
character of Christ and the Father, which is bestowed upon those who
believe. For example:
John 1:14—Christ's
glory is grace and truth.
John 7:18—Christ's
glory is the opposite of falsehood.
John
17:22—The glory of Christ's character unites His disciples.
Rom.
3:23—God's glory is the opposite of sin.
Rom. 5:2-5—We
rejoice because we can share God's glory.
1
Cor. 10:31—All
our behavior is to glorify God.
2
Cor. 3:18—The
glory of Christ's character is given to us progres-
sively by the Holy Spirit.
2 Cor. 4:5,
6—Christ's glory shines in our hearts.
Eph.
1:6—God's glory is His grace.
Eph. 3:16, 17—The
riches of Christ's glory are given us by the Holy
Spirit.
Phil. 1:11—God'
s glory includes the "fruits of righteousness" (RSV).
2 Thess. 2:13,
14—"Sanctification by the Spirit" results in "the glory
of our Lord Jesus Christ" (RSV).
2 Peter 1:3—Godliness
is Christ's glory.
What, then, is the glory that is to be taken around the world?
It is the righteousness, holiness, purity, grace, godliness of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Who takes this glory to the world? The Holy Spirit
living out the life of Jesus in those who have received both the former
and the latter rains takes this glory to the world.
"The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel's
message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-
wide extent and unwonted [unusual] power is here foretold. . . .
"The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. . . .
"The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifesta-
tion of the power of God than marked its opening. . . .
"Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with
holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the
message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the
warning will be given."—The
Great Controversy,
pp. 611, 612.
108
Thursday
September 21
THE MESSAGE EMPOWERED BY THE LATTER RAIN (Rev.
18:2-5).
Identify specific elements included in the gospel message that
will be taken to the world by those who receive the latter rain.
Rev. 18:2-5.
This message is a repetition of the second angel's message of
Revelation 14:8. Modern "Babylon" has become blatantly apostate,
turning away from God's truth to accept: (1) a false day of worship;
(2) the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, involving the teach-
ings of spiritism; (3) de-emphasis of Christ's mediatorial and judg-
ment ministries. The second and third angels' messages are com-
bined in the church's final great proclamation to the world. (See Rev.
14:9-12.)
But it is impossible to counteract the false teachings of modern
"Babylon" without presenting the positive first angel's message of
Revelation 14:6, 7. The "everlasting gospel" of salvation by faith in
Jesus Christ is the heart of the message to be taken to the world under
the impetus of the latter rain. Christ crucified, risen, ascended to
heaven, ministering the merits of His sacrifice for repentant sinners;
Christ the divine Judge and Advocate; Christ the Lord of the Sab-
bath; Christ the coming King—these are the sacred themes that will
be sounded with solemn earnestness by the Spirit-filled believers
who receive the latter rain.
Who are "my people" whom God calls to come out of "Babylon"
(Rev. 18:4)? John 10:16. What does the parable of the laborers in
the vineyard tell us about the experience that will be theirs when
they respond to God's call? Matt. 20:1-15.
"Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God
that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of
Christ's true followers are still to be found in their communion. . . .
"Revelation 18 points to the time when, as the result of rejecting
the threefold warning of Revelation 14:6-12, the church will have
fully reached the condition foretold by the second angel, and the
people of God still in Babylon will be called upon to separate from
her communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the
world; and it will accomplish its work."—The
Great Controversy,
p. 390.
Are you ready to extend the final invitation to your neighbors?
109
Sealing Time
Events Before the Advent
Seal of
Close of
Second
God
Probation
Advent
Preparation
Time of Trouble
Latter Rain
End of
Believers
Pre-advent
Taken to
Judgment
Heaven
Friday
September 22
FURTHER STUDY: In relation to the foregoing lessons, reread
Revelation 6:9-8:5; 14:1-20; 17:1-6; 18:1-5. Read "The Final Warn-
ing" in
The Great Controversy,
pp. 603-612, and "Pray for the Latter
Rain" in
Testimonies to Ministers,
pp. 506-512. Study the following
chart:
We are living in the preparation time that will culminate in the
faithful's receiving the seal of God and the latter rain. After the
initial outpouring of the latter rain, there will be a short period during
which the final message is taken to the world. Those who respond to
Christ's call will receive the seal of God and the latter rain and join in
the proclamation of the message. This short sealing time comes to an
end with the close of probation, at which time the heavenly pre-
advent judgment is brought to a conclusion. After the close of proba-
tion, God's Spirit-filled people will live through the time of trouble.
Although the Holy Spirit will empower them to keep from sinning,
the devil will attempt to discourage them with the thought that,
because they have been sinners, they are lost. When the time of
trouble concludes, at earth's darkest midnight, the final signs of
Christ's coming will appear in the heavens and the earth. Then Jesus
will come to destroy the wicked and translate His faithful people to
the heavenly kingdom.
SUMMARY: When God's people allow Jesus to prepare their hearts,
the latter rain will be given. This final, unprecedented outpouring of
the Holy Spirit upon God's church will occur a short time before the
close of probation and the final events of this earth's history. When
God's people receive the latter rain they will genuinely reflect the
character of Christ. Filled with the Spirit, they will take the final
message of love and warning to the world.
110
Global Mbssisw
Too Many Children
Arlene Webb
"Rustico, you must go live with your aunt and uncle. Father's
income cannot feed all of us." With those words 8-year-old
Rustico left his 11 brothers and sisters and went to live with his
mother's sister, who had only three children of her own.
Rustico was Catholic, and he thought of becoming a priest.
When Adventists held evangelistic meetings near where Rustico
lived, his aunt took the children to the meetings. She was
baptized. Later Rustico and his cousins were baptized, as well.
After Rustico completed high school he wanted to enroll in
the theology course at Mountain View College. His family could
not pay his fees, but he was not discouraged. He worked one
semester to earn money to pay tuition for the next semester.
During school he worked three hours before classes, and then
after school he worked another three hours before he studied. In
this way he finished school in March 1993.
Rustico now works as a lay pastor, helping a pastor who has 24
churches in his district. Rustico oversees 12 of these. His only
transportation is a bicycle, and yet he holds three church services
each Sabbath. He arrives early at the first church and conducts the
divine service, then he rides one half hour to the second church and
conducts their worship service. He eats dinner at the church and
then pedals to his third church in time for the AY meeting at 3:00.
During the week he visits with members.
With this schedule he is able to visit each church once a
month. The other weeks local elders lead out in church activi-
ties. Rustico meets with his local elders and provides them with
sermons and books. He teaches them how to write their own
sermons and how to meet the members' needs effectively.
Rustico assists the district pastor in holding evangelistic meet-
ings. As with most young men in his position, his salary is a
stipend of $50 a month--barely enough to meet his needs. But he is
doing what he loves best--telling others of
Jesus' love and giving hope of eternal life.
Rustico (left) would like to use his talents
and education as a missionary if God calls
him. Arlene Webb teaches elementary
school at Mountain View College in the
Philippines.
For Current Newsbreak, Call 1-800-648-5824.
Lesson 14
September 24-30
Witnessing by the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Luke 4:16-21; Acts 1:8;
1 John 4:13-15; Rev. 18:1-5; Dan. 12:3.
MEMORY TEXT: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me be-
fore men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in
heaven" (Matthew 10:32).
KEY THOUGHT:
We may be guided by the Holy Spirit in our
witnessing endeavors as were Jesus and the early Christians. The
former and latter rains provide the power to witness effectively.
WHEN THE SPIRIT SPEAKS, SOULS RESPOND.
One day
when a pastor was giving a woman a Bible study in her home, a
young man smoking a cigarette walked into the room. The woman
introduced her son, who reluctantly shook hands with the pastor and
left the room. In the next room, listening to the Bible study, the
young man became deeply convicted over his spiritual condition.
Weeks later the pastor's phone rang at suppertime. "Pastor," the
voice said, "I'm Paul."
"Oh yes, Paul, I met you some weeks ago."
"Pastor, how can I overcome sin?" Then Paul asked, "Pastor,
would you come to my apartment and give me Bible studies as you
did for my mother?"
"Of course I will," responded the pastor. And the next Friday
evening he was at Paul's apartment. As the Holy Spirit continued to
speak to Paul, he responded wholeheartedly and was baptized.
112
Sunday
September 24
JESUS WAS GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (Luke 4:16-22).
What was the basis of Jesus' spiritual power as a witness for
His Father? What kind of work was the focus of Jesus' ministry?
Acts 10:38; Luke 4:16-21.
As a man, Jesus submitted His ministry to the direction of His
Father. He said, "For the works which the Father has granted me to
accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that
the Father has sent me" (John 5:36, RSV). As the Father directed
Jesus' work by the Holy Spirit, so He will direct our work. Even
though Jesus was Deity, equal in authority and power with the Father
(John 5:18; 8:58), He chose to submit to the direction of the Holy
Spirit as human beings must do. In witnessing to others, our best
example is Jesus.
From one classic example of Jesus' witnessing method, deduce
principles that the Holy Spirit will use to guide us as we submit to
His direction. John 4:4-38.
First, Jesus placed Himself where He knew people would come.
Without compromising principle, if we wish to reach unbelievers, we
must be where they are. In our introductory story, the pastor was in a
place where Paul, the young man, could be reached. Paul would
probably not have accepted an invitation to the pastor's church.
Second, Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water.
Thus He attempted to break down prejudice and invite confidence.
The last thing this Samaritan expected of a Jew was that he would ask
a favor of her. To attract others to Christ, we must win their friend-
ship and confidence.
Third, Jesus used water to represent the eternal life He wished to
give this woman. He tactfully led her mind from one of her most
familiar physical needs to an awareness of her deep spiritual need.
We must first approach people on the basis of that which is familiar
to them.
Fourth, Jesus brought conviction to the woman's heart. "Go, call
your husband, and come here" (John 4:16, RSV). We may not always
know the circumstances of people's lives as Jesus did, but gently,
with compassion and consummate tact, we may be able to bring them
to a sense of spiritual need.
Fifth, Jesus led her to accept Him as the Messiah. What a privilege
is ours of introducing aching hearts and empty lives to the Christ who
died for their sins!
113
Monday
September 25
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE LED BY THE SPIRIT (Acts
1:8).
How did the Holy Spirit qualify the early Christians to witness
for Christ? Acts 1:4, 5, 8; 2:4, 11.
Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit as the power to witness
for Him. On the Day of Pentecost, spiritual gifts, including the gift of
tongues, were given to facilitate witnessing. "God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16, RSV). He so loved the world
that He sent His followers to lead lost souls to His Son. The work of
the Holy Spirit is to make Christ known (John 15:26; 16:14). Our
best qualification for soul winning is the presence of the Holy Spirit
in our hearts.
When Peter was taken before the Sanhedrin, what witness did
the Holy Spirit inspire him to give? Acts 4:5-12.
Our circumstances may be unfavorable; we may be opposed or
even persecuted for our faith, but Jesus promised: "When they de-
liver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are
to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it
is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through
you" (Matt. 10:19, 20, RSV). This wonderful promise was fulfilled
for Peter and the other early Christians who were willing to speak for
their Master.
Christ was the center of their message. Peter did not hesitate to
remind the Jewish religious leaders that they had crucified Christ.
Yet there was still hope for them if only they would believe. "There
is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, RSV).
How was Jesus' great prayer for the spiritual unity of His
followers (John 17:20-23) answered for the early Christians?
Acts 4:31-37.
Jesus' prayer was that the unity of His followers would be a
witness to the world of His love and power. It was not unity merely
for the sake of peace. It was unity as a testimony to the world that
Christ's Spirit can transform lives and replace hatred and conflict
with love and cooperation.
114
Tuesday
September 26
WITNESSING NOW BY THE SPIRIT (1 John 4:13-15).
How important is it to confess to others that Jesus is Lord?
Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9, 10.
Jesus and Paul were not suggesting that we earn salvation by
witnessing. The point is that willingness to witness is an evidence
that the Holy Spirit is reigning in our hearts. The apostle John
clarified the issue with delightful spiritual insight: "By this we know
that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own
Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son
as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of
God, God abides in him, and he in God" (1 John 4:13-15, RSV).
When the Spirit reigns supreme in our lives, our greatest concern
will be to make Christ known.
In our present witnessing endeavors, the following Bible prin-
ciples are vital:
1.
We need the former rain (Luke 24:49): "If all were willing,
all would be filled with the Spirit. . . . Whenever minor matters
occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the
growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other
blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plentitude."
—The Acts of the Apostles,
p. 50.
2.
We are to exemplify and uplift Christ's holiness (Phil. 2:1-
11): "Does your character testify for Christ? Can you speak of the
refining, ennobling, sanctifying influence of the truth as it is in
Jesus? What have
you
seen, what have
you
known, of the power of
Christ? This is the kind of witness for which the Lord calls, and for
which the churches are suffering."—Gospel
Workers,
p. 273.
3.
Only Christ's message is to be presented (Matt. 28:20): "The
disciples were to teach what Christ had taught. That which He had
spoken, not only in person, but through all the prophets and teachers
of the Old Testament, is here included. Human teaching is shut out.
There is no place for tradition, for man's theories and conclusions, or
for church legislation."—The
Desire of Ages,
p. 826.
4.
More and more of the Spirit's power is given to us as we
witness (Eph. 5:18): "We may have had a measure of the Spirit of
God, but by prayer and faith we are continually to seek more of the
Spirit."—Testimonies
to Ministers,
p. 508.
115
Wednesday
September 27
WITNESSING WHEN WE RECEIVE THE LATTER RAIN (Rev.
18:1-5).
Because the latter rain will be a greater outpouring of the Holy
Spirit than ever before, God's people will have greater power for
witnessing than ever before.
Study the following Bible passages in relation to the Ellen G.
White comments:
1.
Revelation 18:1-5. The latter rain prepares God's people for
the final proclamation of the three angels' messages and for the
events that follow: the close of probation, the time of trouble, and
the coming of Jesus: "While the work of salvation is closing, trouble
will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in
check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the
latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to
give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints
to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured
out."—Early
Writings,
pp. 85, 86.
2.
Revelation 18:1. The latter rain will be more abundant than
Pentecost: "The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the
former rain, and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be
more abundant."—The
Desire of Ages,
p. 827.
3.
Joel 2:28, 29. The latter rain will provide power for fearless
proclamation of the message: "Servants of God, with their faces
lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place
to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of
voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. . . . The message
will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of
the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented."—The
Great
Controversy,
p. 612.
4.
Mark 16:17, 18. Miracles will be performed: "Miracles will
be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will
follow the believers."—The
Great Controversy,
p. 612.
5. John 4:35; Gal. 6:9. Many will respond, and their lives will
be transformed: "Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the
truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the
bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations,
are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all
besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a
large number take their stand upon the Lord's side."—The
Great
Controversy,
p. 612.
116
Thursday
September 28
REWARDS FOR CHRIST'S FAITHFUL WITNESSES (Dan. 12:
3).
What do the following passages teach regarding the rewards
for Christ's faithful witnesses?
Ps. 126:6
Dan. 12:3
Matt. 25:31-40
1 Cor. 3:8
The Scriptures abound with assurances for those who, placing
their complete trust in Christ, "cast. . . [their] bread upon the waters"
(Eccl. 11:1). The promise that "those who turn many to righteous-
ness" will shine "like the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 12:3, RSV) is
especially precious to soul winners.
Jesus' picture of the last great judgment (Matt. 25:31-40) drama-
tizes the enormous significance of practical deeds of kindness. Wit-
nessing is not merely the presentation of propositional truth; nor are
the divine rewards given only to those who have clearly expounded
the Bible message. Those whose lack of verbal skill has predisposed
them to demonstrate their love by generous works and kindly deeds
will receive special mention and rich rewards.
What visions of reunion and rejoicing does John describe in
Revelation 15:2-4; 20:4; 22:4?
The relief and rejoicing of Christ's followers will be in proportion
to their struggles. Those who proclaim Christ's final message must
gain the victory over "the beast and its image and the number of its
name" (Rev. 15:2, RSV). They draw nearer to the Lord, gain the
victory over sin, and proclaim the message to the world in the face of
bitter opposition. Because they receive the latter rain, they are spir-
itually qualified for the task and shielded from the almost overmas-
tering temptations of the evil one. Their greatest joy will be to meet
their Saviour, to see His face, to hear His voice speaking to them
personally, and to share His spotless character for eternity.
Are you prepared for the challenges that precede these match-
less rewards?
117
Friday
September 29
FURTHER STUDY: As a reminder of the eternal home our Lord is
preparing for each of His faithful witnesses, read Revelation 21, 22.
Read "Go Teach All Nations" in
The Desire of Ages,
pp. 818-828.
"God's everlasting arm encircles the soul that turns to Him for aid,
however feeble that soul may be. . . . The city of God will open its
golden gates to receive him who learned while on earth to lean on
God for guidance and wisdom, for comfort and hope, amid loss and
affliction. The songs of the angels will welcome him there, and for
him the tree of life shall yield its fruit. 'The mountains shall depart,
and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee,
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord
that hath mercy on thee.' Isaiah
54:10."—Thoughts From the Mount
of Blessing,
pp. 99, 100.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.
If
you were asked how you are employing your distinctive
spiritual gifts to witness for Christ, how would you answer?
2.
Instead of leaving all the soul-winning work to your pastor,
how can your church members become involved? What plans
could you present to involve the whole church in labor for the
Lord?
3.
Some members of the church seem more concerned about their
own physical, emotional, and spiritual fulfillment than about
the needs and salvation of those about them. What tactful
measures can you take to encourage a different attitude?
4.
How can the church's Community Services program and the
Ingathering program be tied in more directly with the soul-
winning program?
SUMMARY: As Jesus and the early Christians submitted to the
inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit in their witnessing en-
deavors, so may we. As we daily receive a renewal of the former-rain
infilling of the Holy Spirit, we are preparing for the latter rain and for
our final effort to make Christ known to the world. Witnesses for
Christ cherish the ultimate reward of being with Him and with the
redeemed for eternity.
118
Safe in a Bird's House
Liya Yunak
In the countries of the former Soviet Union the church of God
survived through faith in God and ingenuity. Believers relied on
God's guidance and protection as we sought to further God's
cause in an atheistic society. We understood very distinctively
the admonition of Jesus to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as
doves" (Matt. 10:16). God gave wisdom to church ministers
during the trying times we faced.
As a church pastor, my husband often had to keep the church's
ii
money. The government forbade churches to collect tithes or
obtain other financial support, so churches had to keep their
offerings a secret. We could not put money into a bank, so we had
to keep large sums of money at home.
We knew that at any time the police or the KGB could bang on
our door and search our home. They could confiscate our prop-
erty and arrest us if they suspected us of breaking the law by
holding money given by others for the church's support. We had
to seek convenient and safe places to hide the church's money.
We hid small sums of money in flower pots. We could retrieve
the money simply by transplanting the flower. Large sums were
often kept by trusted church members. One pastor hid the church
moneys in beehives. My husband chose a birdhouse for his "trea-
sury." Near our house grew a tall pear tree. He placed a bird-
house high in the tree. In the spring, before the birds returned to
nest, our elder son climbed the tree and cleaned the nesting box.
Then, after making sure that our neighbors were not watching,
my husband handed our son a packet of large bills wrapped in
plastic. "Put this on the bottom to warm the box and put some dry
grass on it," he instructed our son.
Eventually birds came, laid their eggs, and hatched their brood
in the nest. When they flew away in the autumn we could "clean
the nesting box," take inventory of the money, remove part of it
or add some more. Nobody outside our family and God, of
course, had the slightest idea of that "bank" in the bird's house.
We have always enjoyed flowers on our window sills. But
1
„
God gave us wisdom to use the flowers--and the birds of the
heavens--to protect His people's tithes and offerings. Every
kopeck
(penny), whether it was the small sum given by a widow
or a large sum given by someone who had more, was carefully
guarded and used to further God's cause during hard times.
For Current Newsbreak_ Call 1-800-648-5824.
119
Liya Yunak is a secretary in the Euro-Asian Division office
in Moscow, Russia.
Lessons for Fourth Quarter, 1995
The fourth quarter Sabbath School lessons, entitled "Incarnation of
Grace," focus on the earthly life and ministry of Jesus.
Lesson 1: The Time for Grace
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY:
Romans 3:9-18; 5:15-21;
Hebrews 4:14-16; John 1:14-17.
MEMORY TEXT:
Ephesians 2:8, 9, NIV.
KEY THOUGHT:
We can define the term
grace
as God's infinite
love for lost humanity and all that His love leads Him to do for our
salvation.
OUTLINE:
What Is Grace? (2 Cor. 8:9).
Why We Need Grace (Rom. 3:9-18).
Jesus—God's Revelation of Grace (John 1:14-18).
The Results of Grace (Eph. 2:4-7).
Our Response to Grace (Eph. 2:8-10).
Lesson 2: A Messiah Is Promised (Part 1).
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY:
1 Peter 1:10-12; Isaiah 9:2-7;
11:1-5; 40:3-5; 42:1-4.
MEMORY TEXT:
1 Peter 1:10, NIV.
KEY THOUGHT:
When the time had come for the Messiah to arrive,
Isaiah's prophecies confirmed that Jesus was the fulfillment of the
sinner's hope.
OUTLINE:
Prophecies Reveal Christ (1 Peter 1:10-12).
The Promised Child (Isa. 9:2-7).
A Work of Preparation (Isa. 40:3-5).
Characteristics of the Messiah (Isa. 11:1-5).
The Mission of the Messiah (Isa. 42:1).
Lessons in Braille
The regular Adult Sabbath School Lessons are available free each month in
Braille and 16 2/3 rpm records to blind and physically handicapped persons
who cannot read normal ink print. This includes individuals who because of
arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, accident, old age, and so forth, cannot
hold or focus on normal ink-print publications. Contact the Christian Record
Services, Box 6097, Lincoln, NE 68506.
120
Biblical Interpretation Today
Gerhard F. Hasel, Ph.D.
Theological Seminary, Andrews University
•
An
analysis of the historical-critical method of
interpretation and its impact on Old and
New
Testament Studies.
•
A biblical approach to the study of (loft/Aire.
137
pages—$4.95 (price subject to change)
Order from your ABC or the Biblical Research
Institute, General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists, 12501 Old Columbia Pike,
hit
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600.
Phone:
301-680-6790—Fav
301-680-6625
121
The Seventh-day Adventist Reform
Movement (German Reform)
•
Who are the people who call themselves members of
the ODA Reform Movement?
•
Are they what they olaim or are they imposters?
•
What is the origin and history of this organization?
Helmut H. Kramer, a former minister and administrator of this
movement, answers these questions and more. 89 pages. $3.95
(price subject to change).
Order from your ABC or the Biblical Research
Institute, General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists, 12501 Old Columbia Pike,
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600.
Phone: 301-680-6790—Fax 301-680-6625
..4.1101116._
122
EAODICEA
christ's urgent e,mnsel
to a lukezurm church
in the lust duys
JACK
A CURE FOR
WON!
Laodicea
by Jack Sequeira
Poor, miserable, blind, and naked! A pathetic condition for
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about your church and mine? About you and me?
Laodicea
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the last days and upholds
the sure and only cure for
Laodicea's blindness—
righteousness by faith
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US$10.95/Cdn$15.90.
Paper.
Available at your local ABC,
or call toll free
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© 1994 Pacific Press Publishing Association 802/9834
Come out of the darkness
and into the light of God's grace.
I Used to Be Perfect
by George Knight
Vou can find a way to become whole again without
I the guilt of trying to be "perfect." George Knight's
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01994 Pacific Press Publishing Association 726/9833
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Conquering the
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by Marvin Moore
As the end draws near, Satan—the dragon—attacks Christians
with overpowering temptations and enslaving addictions and
taunts us with our failures. Can we defeat him?
Marvin Moore, author of
The
Crisis
of the End Time,
and editor
of
Signs of the Times,
uses
the counsel of Scripture,
Spirit of Prophecy, and
the Twelve-Step recovery
program to show that
through Christ, character
change and victory over
sin are certain. This
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the end of each chapter.
Must reading for those
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Hardcover.
US$13.95/Cdn$20.25.
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•
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from
PACIFIC PRESS
What is Jesus
doing now?
Between the Lamb and the Lion
by Clifford Goldstein
Most Christians, even Adventists, deal with Christ either as
the Lamb at His first coming, the Lion at His second, or both,
but they miss His crucial
role in between.
Between the Lamb
and the Lion,
by Clifford
Goldstein, answers the
question,
What is Jesus
doing now?
It looks at
Christ's role as High
Priest in the heavenly
sanctuary as depicted
in Revelation and
proves that His ministry
there is, in fact, the very
means by which the
Lamb applies salvation
and prepares us to
meet the Lion when
He comes again.
128 pages, paper.
US$8.95/CdnS13.00.
Available at your local ABC, or call toll free 1-800-765-6955.
©
1995 Pacific Press Publishing Association 798/9834
Books You Just Can't Put Down
from PACIFIC PRESS
IF MY
PEOPLE
PRAY
An Lleventh-llour Call to Prayer and Revival
A,4Y
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Randy Maxwell
A revival
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Will you
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hat would happen in our homes, churches, and
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7:14,
humbled ourselves, and prayed? That question is
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If My People Pray,
a book infused with a passion
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If you've had it with status
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Paper, 192 pages.
US$10.95/Cdn$15.90.
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1994 Pacific Press Publishing Association 799/9834
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